Independent schools, however, are puzzlingly excluded from that Alaska standard. Independent schools are barred from a wide-ranging scope of grants, and are often seen as unwanted, distasteful competition. Yet independent schools are a powerful regenerative resource for public educational policy. Innovation rarely comes from the government; it comes from individuals who recognize a need and have the flexibility and drive to turn their vision into a tangible creation. Alaskans know this better than anyone.
In any community, a wide scope of choice is the hallmark of a dynamic and rich quality of life. Educational choice is one of the most vital elements for maintaining that quality of life. In a community like Anchorage -- off the beaten path, but a developing potential powerhouse -- making sure that vibrant education is available to all is critical to attracting the talent we wish to recruit. Anchorage is home to some fine neighborhood schools and many charter and optional schools. Denominational schools are also well represented. However, for a city of this size and economic capacity, the independent options are surprisingly few.
Independent schools are a crucial component to any community. Their nature is to be self-reflective yet progress-oriented, agile yet resilient, collective in cause yet individual in attention. The best schools everywhere have a passionately committed group of teachers, a dedication to the highest academic achievement, a safe environment and a supportive, invested parent body. But independent schools have one more requirement: a deeply imbedded mission and philosophy that is the locus of their identity and purpose.
Excellent independent schools are committed to diversity (cultural, racial and economic), to educating the whole child and to small class sizes. They encourage, nurture and challenge children to become lifelong learners, pursuers of the individual and the common good and self-assured citizens of the world. They can achieve these goals because they have the freedom to do so.
Governed by a board of trustees, led by a head of school and guided by best practices, independent schools can provide an amazingly versatile approach to learning that can uniquely address the needs of each child, without state mandates regarding curriculum, textbooks and testing. They remove layers of bureaucracy from between the children and ideas and information, and they are directly responsible and accountable for their policies and programs, which is good news for kids and for parents.
One of the most important functions of a society is to create with its citizens the opportunity for every single child to be her best self. Independent education is a key ingredient to any community that wishes to do its children justice.
Amy Rhyneer was chair of the board of trustees in 2009-2011 for Pacific Northern Academy, an independent school in Anchorage.
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