HATE IS NOT AN AMERICAN VALUE

The values taught to the students who attend Horizon Science academies are many and range from family values to personal ones such as: hard work, respect, community responsibility, self-respect, self-esteem, and confidence. These, unlike the  values of hate, discrimination and prejudice being spewed by some anonymous bloggers are the ones we want our children learning and adapting in their own lives.

It is completely unfounded to accuse Horizon, and other charter schools run by Concept as attempting to teach their students to "hate America". The culture of Horizon Science Academies are nothing but multi-culturally friendly and they encourage their students to show pride in their American roots. Living in a country as diverse as the U.S. we work hard to teach our children not to judge or form any type of preconceived notions about people from different parts of the world because it is not right. It becomes increasingly clear to us as we continue surfing the internet, reading different postings therein, that making these accusations about Turkish American educators somehow attempting to ''take over'' our schools with a "hidden agenda" that these accusations are based on discrimination and no real facts.

Check out this article below to see who else they have been attacking...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/islamophobia-network-targets-top-performing-american-schools_b_975946.html 

LEAVE CHARTERS ALONE

This a great article put together by Dr. Jon Pahl, Ph.D and Dr. John Raines Ph.d on the attack of successful charter schools by some ill-intended and ignorant bloggers. Bloggers often forget that by simply tagging terms like Gulen charter schools, Gulen muslim schools, and Gulen Turkish schools you cannot make these schools something they are not.

Without being able to support claims made, it is not possible for anyone to take these bloggers seriously. Citing a blog with another blog that has the exact same information will not fool anynone. Take a minute and read this well-written, resourceful article by Dr. Pahl and Dr. Raines, both highly educated and respected professors.

Click here for the article.

INSPIRED BY: WHO CARES

As we know, the infamous bloggers attack not only Horizon Science Academies and Concept Schools, but also other charter schools initiated by Turkish American educators around the country.

Although these organizations are independent of one another, the bloggers try to paint them with a broad brush like “Gulen charter schools,” “Turkish charters,” or “Gulen Charters.” In spite of formal and informal statements from such organizations including our schools and Concept, the bloggers again insist that they are one large network…We all know that Concept Schools and Horizon Science Academies were founded by Turkish American educators and all of our parents, students, and staff are thankful that these entrepreneurs opened such auspicious schools and provided unprecedented opportunities for our kids. Concept is never shy about it and they are not shy saying that some of their founders and current employees may have been inspired by Fethullah Gulen.

Guess what! The parents and children of Horizon Science Academies DO NOT care and DO NOT question people’s personal inspirations as long as they do not bring it into the workplace or promote it in the schools. When that happens we again would not need the bloggers to fight our battle…we would handle it…

What the parents of Horizon Science Academies and Concept Schools care about is the level of education that our children receive and it is a darn good one…much better that these bloggers ever received…

Check out the video below that exposes who these bloggers are and how delusional they get:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIZE5O5ni1Q

THE BOSTON GLOBE: TOP-NOTCH SCHOOL ISN'T MARRED BY LOOSE TIES TO TURKISH CLERIC

Click here to read the full editorial

It is nice to see someone looking at the success of charter schools as a way to objectively describe their success instead of creating un-warranted fear in the citizens of Massachusetts using baseless, false allegations. The Pioneer Charter School of Science, and those like it have set an exemplary standard of education and professionalism. 

Horizon, also setting its own standards should be applauded like the charter school in Boston is in this article. In America, it is the primary constitutional right to come and be as you are. Along the same lines, any organization can be from different backgrounds. Indeed, what an atmosphere we could create when race and ethnicity are longer suitable to be the base of an attack on a school or organization. Rather the judge should be academics, professionalism and whether not those organizations are successful. However, when you judge based on those criteria, it would leave you with nothing left to criticize. 

Click here to read this editorial in The Boston Globe 

Charter Schools vs. Public Schools: An analysis of a parent using real facts and numbers

As a parent, I find it increasingly important to research the schools in our area to ensure I am sending my children to the best school possible. This is how I came across Horizon Science Academy. However, lately our school has come under scrutiny from a mysterious group of people (none of which ever leave their names or any legitimate sources for the things they say) that are against not only our school, but apparently all charter schools and most of the information they are spewing are either taken out of context or not true at all. If you are wondering why we are sending our children to these schools, I will tell you by comparing simple, real numbers and facts that show our reasons.

The U.S. Department of Education has a mission statement of "to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access". In my opinion, any school that abides by the same mission and successfully educates my children all the while providing a safe and caring environment is worth taking a second look at! Horizon does that and more!

Did you know that if a charter school is not producing high enough student achievement scores, they lose their rights to the school? In other words, if our children are not learning at a rate that is set by the government, not the school, the charter is taken away and the school gets SHUT DOWN!

According to the Ohio Deparment of Education, Ohio has a graduation rate of 79.7% as of 2011, the most recent calculation, and Horizon has a graduation rate of 100%! Yes, you read correctly, every student graduated. The other school my children attended do not even compare to the personalized attention my student gets from their teachers at Horizon. Talk about "equal access". Higher grades, more self-esteem and an actual want to go to school in the morning. I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, school was not considered "fun" to say the least.

I am not attempting to put public school down, but regardless of what some people want us to believe, charter schools like Horizon are making a positive impact on our children and society. Please take the time to research for yourself, like I did, before you believe the false allegations spread about so-called "Gulen charter schools".

SOME RELATED VIDEOS about "Gulen charter schools" allegations:

Excellence is excellence in any language	Our Turkish teachers are some of the finest,most well educated people.

City Council Honors Horizon Charter School Students, not Gulen Charter Schools

Here you go guys. HSA Columbus High School receives recognition at City Council Meeting. While those angry bloggers are accusing these schools and labeling them as Gulen charter schools, true Americans are always capable of appreciate the goodness where ever it comes from.

What would be the reason for Mr. Gulen that he should inspire the students in charter schools, even though these students have their own inspiration with which they can set up higher goals for themselves. Nor Gulen needs to inspire these imaginary Gulen charter schools, nor do the charter school students need inspiration from his person.

And also look at the video carefully if you can see something about Islam or radical Islam. There is neither Gulen, nor radical Islam in the students' achievement.  

Good job the HSA students and staff, and thanks the City Council people.

Rumors Around So-called Gulen Charter Schools in the US

Let's listen to one of the Horizon parents on the ongoing debate about Fethullah Gulen and the charter schools allegedly linked to him and thus called Gulen charter schools. The ideas that are presented in the article is quite informative for those who are eager to know more about the issue centered around the imaginary Gulen charter schools:

I have been hearing rumors about Turkish schools trying to promote a hidden agenda. Being curious and wanting to be well informed I decided to do some research. I came across several articles which were surprising to me. I found it hard to believe what I was reading and wanted to share with you my thoughts on a couple of these articles posted by the American Thinker and Act for America. If you would like to read the articles you may click on the title below to read each in its entirety. While you read please keep in mind that they are very misinformed. I am curious as to whether or not the authors have ever visited or really looked into the schools or the people they are bashing.

Islamist Gülen Movement Runs U.S. Charter Schools By Stephen Schwartz

Fethullah Gulen: Infiltrating the U.S. Through Our Charter Schools? by Guy Rodgers

As I read the articles on the internet my mouth dropped in amazement. It was hard to believe the lengths people will go to to criticize and try to disenchant people with another group just because they are different. Hate is everywhere bred by ignorance. I have children who attend Horizon Science Academy Columbus, one of the schools they are talking about being described as a Gulen run school which some claim to be receiving government funding, without a state-approved curriculum, and teaching Islam while trying to promote Gulen ideas.

Lets take a look at this.

First, who is Fethulla Gulan? Since I don't know him personally and really had never heard of him I did a Google search to find out more about the man. He is described as a forward thinker, a man of peace who has met with the Pope and other Jewish leaders all in an attemt to promote peace and interfaith dialogue. That really doesn't sound so bad. If you would like to know more about him visit his website by clicking here.

Second, in rebuttal to the claim as to whether the schools receive government funding, without a state-approved curriculum. The schools they are talking about are some of the best schools in out nation. My children are doing very well there scoring well on state test when they are given them. Would they be able to do that if they were not being taught? By the time they reach high school the requirements for graduation are even higher than those required by the state. Perhaps that is why many of these schools have bright students ready for college and the ability to do well in their adult life. I wonder if these naysayers have ever visited any of the schools they badmouth? Their school also strives to provide them opportunity on a tight budget giving them availability to play sports and belong to the typical clubs any other school offers. They receive approximately 2/3 the funding per child that the city school receives.

Third, I have never, not one time seen the schools my children attend teaching Islam or promoting Gulen ideas. Each of their schools are very culturally diverse which I love. They promote self respect and respect of others. The children are given expectations to do their work, be prompt, respect others and to do well. As a parent I don't really mind those expectations.

I love the school my children attend. They provide a safe environment full of qualified teacher ready to help my child succeed. Keep that in mind as you read the article below that tries to tell you the schools are not good for America. How can preparing students to do well be bad? What is bad for America is groups promoting hate based on warped views without merit, cultural and religious differences or hidden agendas of their own.

That's what the parents think about the so-called gulen schools.