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Summarized by Kent Larsen
New FLDS Policy Decimates Local Public Schools
COLORADO CITY, ARIZONA -- A month after FLDS Church leader Warren
Jeffs called on church members to leave the public schools, teaching
their children at home instead, the now open schools have felt the
effects of that decision. About two-thirds of the previous student
body decided not to enroll this year, leaving the schools with nearly
empty halls and underutilized resources. But while the loss of
students hurts, the schools are seeing a few benefits.
Jeffs called for his followers to shun the public schools in late
July, urging them to turn their backs on "secular" society and
cut-off ties to "apostates." The school in Hildale, Utah, Colorado
City's sister-town across the state line, saw the first effect of the
decision when just 94 students, compared to 250 students last year,
showed up to the first day of classes on Monday, August 21st. Hildale
also had 10 of its 12 teachers quit because of Jeff's advice, making
the school hire another staff member and forcing Principal Maz Tolman
to teach also.
Fearing similar difficulties, Colorado City postponed starting school
a week, thinking that attendance would drop from 1,000 students last
year to 450 to 500. When the school finally opened on Monday, August
28th, only about 350 students arrived. Colorado City Superintendent
Alvin Barlow said that the school's junior high and high school-level
classes were hardest hit, with just 30 high school-aged students
enrolling (verses 200 last year) and the school having to merge the
junior high-aged classes into the elementary school for lack of
students. Like in Hildale, Colorado City was forced to hire new
teachers to get the student-teacher ration down to 19, the same as it
was last year.
But some residents see a silver lining in the changes. Members of the
"second ward," the polygamous group that broke away from the FLDS
Church, or "first ward" as it is known locally, 10 years ago are
pleased because of the changes, "It's a lot better that they are
gone, if you ask me," said Melissa Hammon, a "second ward" member.
"Eighty percent of the teachers last year were indoctrinating the
kids with all the first ward teachings. Now, I think they'll get a
better education." And Isis Israel, who belongs to neither sect,
says, "I figure this way that it will be more attention for my kids."
Barlow, who is an FLDS Church member, thinks that the taxpayers in
the town may actually benefit in the long run. "We have the highest
tax rate in the state on schools. There's undoubtedly going to be a
significant reduction in that since we will only have about one-third
the number of students."
Sources:
Town split by Mormon fight
(Phoenix) AZ Republic 29Aug00 N5
By Mark Shaffer: Arizona Republic
Polygamous families empty public schools
Low turnout causes delay for Colorado City schools
(Phoenix) AZ Republic 23Aug00 D5
By Mark Shaffer: Arizona Republic
Religion forbidding public education
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