Achiever Academy Roster

[OsMetroDad]

Online learning is here to stay. I haven't used a physical textbook in 8 years. But learning isn't about a textbook, or a webpage. It's about critical thinking, human interaction, and wrestling with ideas.

hockeyfan21 - I agree with you 100% about developing critical thinking, but I also differ with your view point on how to get there. Let's just agree to dis-agree, ehh? BTW, I also taught computer science in town here over at Saint Paul College, intro/adv engineering coarses at UW-Madison while in grad school and consulted & wrote content for an on-line surveying / photogrammetric curriculum for Mississippi State Univ. This does not make me an expert in any way shape or form about on-line learning modes, but on the other hand I don't presume that I know what's best for every kid out there as you imply based on your thoughtful experience & observations. As it has been said by many, this emerging mode of class room is not a panasea for every kid, nor should it be. But make no mistake about it, it is the right choice for those families who embrace it as their choice, which you or I have little to say about. And to negatively criticize them for making their choice to do so based on the amount of hockey training they wish to participate in before school starts is just plain silliness. Perhaps based on your extensive experience & vision, you can start your own charter school that bridges these gaps in the education marketplace? Might be worth a try.

[woogieboogiewoogie]

I wouldn't be surprised if AA makes the state tourney this year. They have
some very good student athletes in the program.

[hockeyfan21]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?

If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

[DrGaf]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?

If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

Could be a figure skater ...

[hockeyfan21]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?

If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

Could be a figure skater ...

Lol. Okay, let me rephrase. They eliminate all sports...

[royals dad]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?

If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

Could be a figure skater ...

Lol. Okay, let me rephrase. They eliminate all sports...

I would guess that nearly 100% of the people with children that are varsity athletes would consider switching schools if their school dropped athletics. It doesn't mean that sports is the only thing people care about but you have to figure out what is right for your whole kid, not just the student and not just the athlete. Athletics can open doors and can be a great educational motivator. If someone is looking for a school for their own kid who are you to question their motivations beyond the (thoughtful) response they already gave.

[Otter]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

Without getting involved in the argument over the AA experiment, I think this is a BS question. If Edina didn't offer Girl's Hockey, would any kids who liked playing hockey even bother to investigate whether it was the 'right fit'? Or Minnetonka, or Blake, or Roseville?

[OsMetroDad]

OsMetroDad. Fair enough.

I have only one question then. If Northern Educate dropped hockey, but kept the education program. Would you still think it is the right fit for your child?

If it is, then we agree to disagree and that's fine, I don't know your child and how they learn. I've been wrong a few times before.

If it wouldn't be, then maybe you should really look at what you are prioritizing.

Our older son went to NorEDU last year. Initially, we were prepared to home school him using Mn Virutal Academy or the cirruculm based out of U_of_N-Lincoln, but neither had an exercise component and we decided to give NorEDU a try. It turned out to be the right place for him and we are very pleased with his academic progress compared to being at SPA the prior year. Its definitely the right setting for him, plus the flexibility allows him to travel with my wife to trade shows like CES and get experience such as working in the 3M trade show booth which would be impossible to do if he were still at SPA. A year later our daughter is also at NorEDU because of a completely different path and set of cirrcustances involving both school choice and a path to athletic development. She left a Saint Paul public charter school because it had very limited athletics program and she needed a change in academic environment. She was also accepted in SPA, but we decided to also try NorEDU with her. Its good to have both kids at the same school now in terms of daily logistics. Now she is taking multiple AP classes, Spanish 4 and getting Fine Arts credit for her piano instruction, and done with hockey and classes by 4:30pm every school day. Actually, because of AA use of the Florida Virtual Academy cirrculum, her school day continues at home when she chooses to advance at a more rapid pace, in a way similar to a consultant working out of their home office. Always working, but the flexibility to choose working hours. To be honest, I think a small percentage of kids from her previous public charter school could excell in this environment, but that has more to do with demographics than any other factor.

[hockeyfan21]

Without getting involved in the argument over the AA experiment, I think this is a BS question. If Edina didn't offer Girl's Hockey, would any kids who liked playing hockey even bother to investigate whether it was the 'right fit'? Or Minnetonka, or Blake, or Roseville?

Hold on here. I'm asking a question about apples versus oranges (brick and mortar school vs. online/homeschool where they put an obvious emphasis on sports beyond what a traditional public or private does).

You're talking apples to apples. If a kid wants to play hockey and their school drops sports, and they want to go to another school (whose education method is identical in theory and practice to the previous school) that is a very different scenario.

[hockeyfan21]

If someone is looking for a school for their own kid who are you to question their motivations beyond the (thoughtful) response they already gave.

Touche'. Maybe I should have been more clear.

I have much more of a beef with what "schools" like Northern Educate are doing far more than the decision a parent makes to send their kid there. Parents have to make tough decisions all the time, and I completely agree that there is no 1 size fits all answer.

Arguing that our education system needs to improve is an important discussion society needs to have. Turning learning environments into places to de-emphasize education and emphasize athletics has not been a method tried by any of the 20 countries that are now currently out performing our schools.

On the other hand, doing the opposite has been tried...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc ... ts/309447/

I love sports. I am a 3 sport varsity coach. I played collegiate sports. But the culture of sports was different 20+ years ago. I was never under the impression that learning in the classroom wasn't priority number 1.

[LetsGetRealPeople]

Dear HockeyFan21,

I’m glad to see you vigorously debate the issue as that tells me you care about Education and Athletics. Let me provide some clarity for you about the Student/Athletes at Achievers Academy.

I know quite a bit about the Student/Athletes at Achievers Academy as two of them are my own. They are all highly focused and driven kids that dream big and work hard on and off the ice. They are there to achieve great things in the classroom as well as on the ice and make absolutely no mistake they want to succeed in both arenas. They just like other Student/Athletes from other schools across this state are learning that to achieve success you have to work hard and stay focused.

The Student/Athletes at Achiever Academy are some of the hardest working and focused kids I have ever met. But here is something different than most schools, they are smiling everyday when they get there in morning and you can tell they genuinely want to be there every day.

I know you and obviously others below have spent a lot of time chattering about how horrible this all is and what kind of parents would even consider this type of approach.

My answer to you and them is me!

Why? Because I did what most of the people below did not do! I actually looked, listened, learned and then I formed an opinion based on the facts. After that we then mustered up the courage to give something new a try. Then we kept vigilance as the school progressed over the last three years.

And just like I tell my kids sometimes to succeed you have to be willing take a risk and sometimes that risk pay off. So far I can honestly say this school is one of times in my kids lives were courage is paying dividends for them in the classroom and on the ice.

As for the teachers, coaches and administrators at Achievers Academy they are some of the finest people I have ever met in my life. They genuinely care about every Student/Athlete that attends the school. Their tireless approach in the classroom and on the ice is contagious and the students love it.

Notice to all that read my statements above! I capped the “Student/Athlete” term every time I used it. They are what this is all about not you!

I’m sure what I said will not stop the chattering ninnies as they lack the foundation of wisdom.
(“Look, listen, learn and then form an opinion based on the facts” from paragraph six for all of you chattering ninnies)

The way I see it there are two types of people on the planet.

1st type: Cant, Won’t, Never
2nd type: Can, Will, Must

Ask all of yourselves which type you are before you make your next post!

Cheers,

LetsGetRealPeople

[MN_Bowhunter]

The way I see it there are two types of people on the planet.

1st type: Cant, Won’t, Never
2nd type: Can, Will, Must

Ask all of yourselves which type you are before you make your next post!

Cheers,

LetsGetRealPeople

I'm the second type.

I CAN see why some people like OMD would send their children to this school. However, I don't believe most of these kids are truly failing in a traditional school setting. I don't understand why getting a girls hockey scholarship would be so important that it outweighs experiencing all of the ups and downs, relationships and general fun of a real high school. Especially to people that obviously have the means to pay for college. Your child will never get those years back.

I WILL continue to assert my opinion that an online school with nationally recruited players training 4 hours a day shouldn't be allowed in the MSHSL. I have yet to hear a UAA parent try to justify that one yet.

I MUST be nuts to expect the league to make the right decision.

edit: I honestly don't care what you do, just go compete with the other prep schools and get out of the MSHSL.

[LetsGetRealPeople]

Dear Mr. MN_Bowhunter,

Let me start with a definition that these kids learn at school.

Intelligence: the ability to learn or understand things or to deal with new or difficult situations.

Some of the people on this website obviously lack the skill above. And if you don’t have the ability above I Highly doubt that you are a type 2 person.

As a matter of fact there are many Student/Athletes at Achievers Academy in honors classes and AP classes as well. Many of them were and are straight A students before coming to Achievers Academy and you know what they find the curriculum challenging.

As to your It is fair and the MSHL should not allow it. You kids can train for 4 hours a day as well if they want to. When they train or how much they train is up to you and them. The type two people would not be on the website complaining they would be focused on improving themselves and those around them.

As to your get out of the MSHL statement that defines my point about the definition above. It is something chattering ninnies would say.

Go luck to you and your low self esteem.

Cheers,

LetsGetRealPeople