The school plans to expand through eighth grade in future years and will add a fifth grade in fall. Marva Collins, educator and founder of the Marva Collins Preparatory School, makes a winter visit to Milwaukee. Last month, the school decided to revert back to a choice school to avoid federal regulations governing services for exceptional education students. Because the vast majority of its students come from low-income families, it continues to receive state funding. Like its Chicago progenitor, Marva Collins in Milwaukee features the ordered regime of Marine Corps boot camp, with punishment mitigated by lavish praise for good behavior and work, physical displays of affection and enough moral messages to put values czar William Bennett to shame.
Proverbs supplement the school's creed and are pasted on walls everywhere.
The pace is frenetic. Teachers have no breaks or lesson preparation time during the school day and do not even have their own desks. They are expected to be on their feet all the time, teaching constantly, identifying and correcting errors on the spot. All rights reserved.