32 replies to this topic

[KJW]

Mith242, on Aug 31 2005, 01:45 PM, said:

I'm assuming it's probably a matter of time before something like this happens.  Although I have heard that the public school systems tend to be some of the best in the state up here, I imagine someone will eventually want to set up some better private schools.  Not everything is keeping up with the growth.

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Weird, though...remember when the Diocese of Little Rock (last year, year before?) said NWA wasn't big enough to support a Catholic high school?

[Mith242]

KJW, on Sep 6 2005, 12:04 PM, said:

Weird, though...remember when the Diocese of Little Rock (last year, year before?) said NWA wasn't big enough to support a Catholic high school?

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You'd think that may change sometime soon.  Don't know if the hispanic growth would help speed things up or not.

[Aporkalypse]

Mith242, on Sep 6 2005, 04:39 PM, said:

You'd think that may change sometime soon.  Don't know if the hispanic growth would help speed things up or not.

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A substantial part of NWA's growth has been Hispanic.  The problem is there is a lot of seasonal migration of workers in NWA back and forth between the US and Mexico and there hasn't been much development of a Hispanic middle class (yet).  I met the family that owns La Huerta and they are a notable exception.  Without a decent-sized Catholic middle class, I guess there's no reason to build such a school and NWA is predominantly protestant save the recent immigrants.  That said, you would expect enrollment to be half protestant as it was at my alma mater, Little Rock Catholic.

If someone were to give a huge chunk of money to build it, though, that's a different story.  Episcopal HS in Little Rock never would've been built if Jack Stephens hadn't donated millions.  If you haven't seen it, that's one AMAZING high school campus. It's on Cantrell across from Dillard's HQs.

[Mith242]

Aporkalypse, on Sep 6 2005, 09:51 PM, said:

A substantial part of NWA's growth has been Hispanic.  The problem is there is a lot of seasonal migration of workers in NWA back and forth between the US and Mexico and there hasn't been much development of a Hispanic middle class (yet).  I met the family that owns La Huerta and they are a notable exception.  Without a decent-sized Catholic middle class, I guess there's no reason to build such a school and NWA is predominantly protestant save the recent immigrants.  That said, you would expect enrollment to be half protestant as it was at my alma mater, Little Rock Catholic.

If someone were to give a huge chunk of money to build it, though, that's a different story.  Episcopal HS in Little Rock never would've been built if Jack Stephens hadn't donated millions.  If you haven't seen it, that's one AMAZING high school campus. It's on Cantrell across from Dillard's HQs.

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You have a point.  It will take some time but I think we will develop more of a hispanic middle class.  I've also wondered if this area keeps it's reputation for being good for hispanics if eventually more middle class hispanics from other parts of the US might eventually come here.  They might not represent a large number but there are some hispanics from California that have moved here because real estate is so much cheaper than California.  So they can actually afford to buy a house and not have to just rent.

[mcheiss]

Mith242, on Sep 7 2005, 01:39 PM, said:

You have a point.  It will take some time but I think we will develop more of a hispanic middle class.  I've also wondered if this area keeps it's reputation for being good for hispanics if eventually more middle class hispanics from other parts of the US might eventually come here.  They might not represent a large number but there are some hispanics from California that have moved here because real estate is so much cheaper than California.  So they can actually afford to buy a house and not have to just rent.

Any thoughts about a possible College Prep Baptist or Protestant School in Northwest Arkansas?

[Mith242]

mcheiss, on Sep 26 2005, 02:33 PM, said:

Any thoughts about a possible College Prep Baptist or Protestant School in Northwest Arkansas?

That will probably be happening sometime also.  There is Shiloh Christian, which I think has ties to that big Baptist Church in Springdale.

[mcheiss]

A Magnet school in Northwest Arkansas could be a hit. I know that the Benton County School of the Arts is a fast growing school.

Doesn't Little Rock have Magnet Schools?

[Arkansawyer]

mcheiss, on Oct 4 2005, 09:21 PM, said:

Doesn't Little Rock have Magnet Schools?

Yes, Little Rock has several Magnet Schools. Looking at this website, I counted eighteen such schools, including elementary and secondary schools.

[Aporkalypse]

mcheiss, on Sep 26 2005, 02:33 PM, said:

Any thoughts about a possible College Prep Baptist or Protestant School in Northwest Arkansas?

True college prep schools are seldom Baptist and if Protestant tend to be Lutheran or Episcopal, for whatever reason - probably that there is less conflict between them and other denominations.  A large college prep nondenominational prep school along the lines of Pulaski Academy would likely serve the role you're talking about.  In Dallas St Mark's (nonreligious despite the name) and Hockaday School serve this role - these are probably the two most prestigious schools in Texas.

[mcheiss]

I also think that more college's should consider being built in the area or even in the state, especially college's that offer "higher level education". If we had college's that had large, massive technological programs, then I think the area would be able to attract technology jobs. Especially in Marion, where officials are hoping for a car manufacturer on that super site. Critics have stated that places like Detroit tend to offer much better technology eductation than places like Arkansas, which could be holding back that area. All that's out there (education wise) is a bunch of community colleges.

[Mith242]

mcheiss, on Oct 7 2005, 11:19 PM, said:

I also think that more college's should consider being built in the area or even in the state, especially college's that offer "higher level education". If we had college's that had large, massive technological programs, then I think the area would be able to attract technology jobs. Especially in Marion, where officials are hoping for a car manufacturer on that super site. Critics have stated that places like Detroit tend to offer much better technology eductation than places like Arkansas, which could be holding back that area. All that's out there (education wise) is a bunch of community colleges.

I know that is one thing that has held northwest Arkansas back even compared to Little Rock.  We don't have a very high percentage of people with an upper level education.  I'd really like to see northwest Arkansas, and for that matter Arkansas in general develop more tech jobs.

[Arkansawyer]

Aporkalypse, on Oct 6 2005, 11:42 PM, said:

True college prep schools are seldom Baptist and if Protestant tend to be Lutheran or Episcopal, for whatever reason - probably that there is less conflict between them and other denominations.  A large college prep nondenominational prep school along the lines of Pulaski Academy would likely serve the role you're talking about.  In Dallas St Mark's (nonreligious despite the name) and Hockaday School serve this role - these are probably the two most prestigious schools in Texas.

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod operates the largest Protestant school system in the United States. Being a member of that denomination, I must correct you about the reason for its success. It has historically emphasized education and firmly established itself in that field. I can assure you that there is extreme theological conflict between the Lutheran and Catholic denominations. Don’t you forget who started the Protestant Reformation!  

Regarding the Episcopal Church, it does have less conflict, since it is basically the Americanized Anglican Church.

[Mith242]

Arkansawyer, on Oct 21 2005, 11:50 PM, said:

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod operates the largest Protestant school system in the United States. Being a member of that denomination, I must correct you about the reason for its success. It has historically emphasized education and firmly established itself in that field. I can assure you that there is extreme theological conflict between the Lutheran and Catholic denominations. Don’t you forget who started the Protestant Reformation!  

Regarding the Episcopal Church, it does have less conflict, since it is basically the Americanized Anglican Church.

I was actually wondering why there were so many Lutheran schools.  I know they dominate areas to the north of us but it didn't explain why there seemed to be so many Lutherans schools around in general compared to other denominations.  There are differences between the Catholic and Lutheran churches.  But I think say a Baptist or one of the newer denominations would see more similarities between Lutherans and Catholics than other denominations.  Lutherans kept more aspects of the services simply because they broke off earlier.  It seems the newer the denomination the more they typically changed.  And much of the similarities are simply appearances and don't have anything to do with actually creed between the two.  I know you probably know more about the Missouri Synod because that's your church but do you know if the ELCA have many schools?