Letter: PEAK Academy criticism makes little sense

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

[Regarding “PEAK Academy’s Leadership Misplaces Its Wisdom Button,” Jan. 17, Xpress:]

The charge that PEAK Academy is a racist school makes little sense, given they do accept white students. More importantly, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction reports Asheville City Schools’ white student achievement scores are some five times higher than Black students [See “Reset Room: Charter School Puts a Dent in Asheville’s Racial Achievement Gap,” Nov. 8, Xpress].

PEAK Academy has cut that performance differential dramatically. If Asheville schools redesigned their curriculum along the lines of PEAK Academy, there can be an increase in Black student performance across the system — which would be a significant corrective to the damage caused by real, historical racism.

The charge that PEAK Academy is racist because of its efforts to improve Black student performance seems a bit … well, what would you call it?

— Tom Plaut, Ph.D.
Weaverville
Emeritus professor of sociology
Mars Hill University

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3 thoughts on “Letter: PEAK Academy criticism makes little sense”

  1. Voirdire

    The complaint filed against PEAK with the US Dept of Education is nothing more than disingenuous grandstanding by a known charlatan that is meant to enthrall his racist audience. It serves no other purpose, nor was it meant to. I’m quite sure the Dept of Educations folks up there in DC will quickly file it where it belongs. The plaintiffs have had their moment. sigh.

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  3. Dylan

    Imagine being such a miserable person you see kids making achievements and you try to use the law to squash them.

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