Method of establishment of schools
In each geographical area, the establishment of Gulenist charter schools tends to follow the same pattern.
Initially, a team that includes at least one university-affiliated Gulenist mathematician or scientist (professor, graduate student, etc) prepares a charter school application. It is presented to the public as the original idea of this team, in response to inadequacies of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) preparation of students. No reference is made to the fact that extremely similar schools have already been established in other areas, and that the school blueprint was not created by the team of applicants.
The school devotes much attention to the small team of students coached for math competitions, and to the robotics club.
The flagship school quickly achieves recognition through high performance on standardized tests and through a select small group of students winning awards in robotics and math competitions. The school strategically issues press releases after each competition.
After a couple of years the flagship school becomes established, and the scientists or mathematicians who initially lent their academic credentials to help found the school move on to their careers. Gulenists who are more deeply involved in the Movement take their place. Some of these individuals may have four-year degrees in a science field, but their focus is on business. They start the process of growing the regional chain. The focus on applying for new schools increases each year. The reputation of the flagship school is constantly exploited in the formation of the newer schools, which often are of lesser quality.
As the school chain becomes more established, the Gulenists become more aggressive about pursuing their true non-educational goals.
Layers of administration are added, each receiving a cut of the schools' funding. A regional administrative organization is set up, and as much of the school's administrative business as possible is transferred to this organization. This organization is run by Gulenists and only serves the Gulenist schools. It also serves to help keep all the member schools in conformity with the Gulenist master blueprint for all the schools.
This evolution process is accompanied by continual efforts on the part of the administration to establish relations with local school regulatory officials, local government officials and local community leaders. Such influential people are invited to school events, and the administration is constantly arranging meetings with them.
Initially, a team that includes at least one university-affiliated Gulenist mathematician or scientist (professor, graduate student, etc) prepares a charter school application. It is presented to the public as the original idea of this team, in response to inadequacies of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) preparation of students. No reference is made to the fact that extremely similar schools have already been established in other areas, and that the school blueprint was not created by the team of applicants.
The school devotes much attention to the small team of students coached for math competitions, and to the robotics club.
The flagship school quickly achieves recognition through high performance on standardized tests and through a select small group of students winning awards in robotics and math competitions. The school strategically issues press releases after each competition.
After a couple of years the flagship school becomes established, and the scientists or mathematicians who initially lent their academic credentials to help found the school move on to their careers. Gulenists who are more deeply involved in the Movement take their place. Some of these individuals may have four-year degrees in a science field, but their focus is on business. They start the process of growing the regional chain. The focus on applying for new schools increases each year. The reputation of the flagship school is constantly exploited in the formation of the newer schools, which often are of lesser quality.
As the school chain becomes more established, the Gulenists become more aggressive about pursuing their true non-educational goals.
Layers of administration are added, each receiving a cut of the schools' funding. A regional administrative organization is set up, and as much of the school's administrative business as possible is transferred to this organization. This organization is run by Gulenists and only serves the Gulenist schools. It also serves to help keep all the member schools in conformity with the Gulenist master blueprint for all the schools.
This evolution process is accompanied by continual efforts on the part of the administration to establish relations with local school regulatory officials, local government officials and local community leaders. Such influential people are invited to school events, and the administration is constantly arranging meetings with them.
