News Story

'We Found a Place Where Our Children's Safety Would Never Be An Issue'

An interview with a cyber school parent

The Michigan House Education Committee is considering lifting the enrollment cap on the number of families that can take advantage of publicly funded cyber charter public schools. No more than 2,000 students may enroll in these schools under current law.

Below is an interview with Brian Kevelin, a parent who sends his children to one of Michigan’s two cyber charter schools — Michigan Virtual Charter Academy.

Why did you seek out this alternative form of public schooling?

"It started out because of a safety issue that the public school did not correct. The child brought a knife to school and threatened a group of 1st graders, of which our son was a part of. The school just made him shadow the teacher for one week. Nothing else was done, so we found a place where our children's safety would never be an issue. We stumbled through various home-school curricula, and finally found the Idaho K-12 Virtual Charter school program. Once we experienced the organization and curriculum, and how teachers were so involved with the children, we never wanted anything else."

What are your thoughts about the enrollment caps?

"My thought on the cap is that the traditional public schools don't want to lose money. I'll never be convinced that there is any other reason. They'll blow smokescreens and throw virtual schooling under the bus, and say all sorts of untrue things about the program, but it's just used to take the focus off their desire for all the money."

Did you think other parents would take advantage of full-time online schools if they were able?

"There are over 5,000 students waiting to get into the virtual school setting, so yes. I truly believe that there would be even more parents that would take advantage, if given the opportunity."

What are some of the main advantages you’ve experienced through participating in MVCA?

"Advantages include testing and evaluations that place each child in the proper grade level, one-on-one assistance with the teacher, flexibility to get work done when the child is at their best, and then allow them to take a break if things are overwhelming. This type of schooling can be done anywhere and we had some health issues where we had to be out of state getting medical help and the children were able to do their schooling in the hotel room."

What are some of the challenges about this form of schooling?

"The parent and child must be driven to get the work done. This is not the place for lazy parents or children."

Would you recommend full-time online schooling to other parents?

"I would recommend MVCA schooling to most everyone. It's a tough curriculum, and it takes motivation on the parents’ part to keep the child focused and motivated to learn the material."

Do you feel like your children get enough socialization and personal contact from teachers, students and mentors?

"Our children are involved with various activities the friends and socialization has never been a concern. The 'socialization' they were getting in the traditional school setting is why we're involved with the MVCA today. Our children are years ahead of where I was socially, at the same age, having gone through the traditional school setting. Our children can talk and play with children their age as well as children younger and older then themselves."   

What has been the response from your children to this form of schooling?    

"We occasionally ask the kids if they'd like to go back to the traditional school setting, and without delay, they both refuse! In fact we threaten them that if they don't do well, that we'll force them back into that setting, and they assure us that they'll do their best, and that's all we can ask of them."

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

News Story

When Will Right-to-Work Come to Michigan?

An interview with Rep. Mike Shirkey

Rep. Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, is expected to introduce right-to-work legislation in the Michigan House. Under such a law, employers and unions would be prohibited from negotiating contracts that require non-union employees to pay union dues.

With Indiana moving toward right-to-work status, the issue appears to be heating up in Michigan. Capitol Confidential interviewed Shirkey via telephone Tuesday evening. The following are excerpts from that interview.

Have you introduced the right-to-work legislation?

“No, it hasn't been introduced. I'm not going to speculate on the timing because sometimes that just sets you up for disappointment. Our plan is to go across the state, educate people on right-to-work and have rigorous discussions and debate about the issue.

“We believe that, if we can do that, it will build widespread support for it. We want to have demonstrated that support when we introduce the bill.”

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, has said there aren't enough “yes” votes on the Senate to pass a right-to-work bill. What's the point of introducing the legislation?

“First, I don't know if the senator has counted votes or is just speculating. But one thing I've found to be true, in the short time I've been in the Legislature, is that often you really don't know what's going to happen until a bill actually exists.

“You might have noticed that lawmakers have a tendency to say they don't know whether they'll support something or not until they can look at the bill. I think there can be a lot of truth to that.”

Have you been promised any hearings for the bill?

“No, and I haven't asked for any. We've been graciously allowed a wide swath on this. We have the opportunity to work on this, do a bill and create a winning plan. This issue is complex enough as it is. My idea is to move on it very deliberately and openly throughout the process.

“I haven't asked for any promises about hearings or anything like that. I think it would have been inappropriate if I had done so.”

Could this be one of those issues that has to ripen a little bit more before it happens in Michigan?

“I'm not sure I'd put it that way, but I think that's possible. To me it's something that has to be worked on, developed and made ready. Right now, it would be hard to predict exactly when the right time will be. That's why I'm not predicting a time frame.”

When people make comparisons between right-to-work states and non-right-to-work states, should the incomes of the unemployed and those on welfare be averaged in?

“That's precisely why I'm proposing open discussion and debate. I'm well aware that any side of an issue can take data and twist it for their purposes.

“When I see some comparisons that have been made on this issue, I always look to see if the deck has been stacked. I've seen plenty of cherry picking in some of the studies. For instance, you can't simply compare income levels in non-right-to-work states like Connecticut. In Connecticut, a $50,000 income is like minimum wage in Michigan because costs are so much higher there. The real comparisons that matter are things like disposable income and dollars invested.”

Watching the debate in Indiana, those opposed to right-to-work keep acting as if it was some alien idea that still has to be tested. Are you going to let that happen in Michigan?

“I've studied this issue off and on since 1973. Since I've been talking about it publicly I haven't heard a single argument against it that I hadn't heard previously. And regarding those arguments, I haven't heard any to which I didn't feel capable of giving a full and robust response.”

What's your opinion on the position Gov. Rick Snyder has taken on a right-to-work law?

“I respect the governor's position and I understand it. He needs to be cautious on this issue. The governor has said that he would sign a right-to-work bill if it reached his desk. Basically, his approach has been to let the Legislature do the heavy-lifting on this one.

“Although some people keep misinterpreting him on this, he has never said that he is opposed to. All he has said is that it's not something he put on his agenda. Basically, that means he's leaving it up to the Legislature.”

 

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.