Will Smith has started his own private school in Calabasas, California for children from pre-kindergarten to grade 6 called the New Village Academy. It emphasizes learning by doing, technology and individualized instruction. According to the school’s website, which makes no mention of Smith, they will provide every child with a laptop computer, including pre-k students, and serve an all-organic low-fat sugar-free menu. It will cost $12,500 a year for grades 3-6 and $11,500 for K-2, with financial aid available for families who qualify.
Smith homeschools his two younger children, Jaden, 9 and Willow, 7, and told People Magazine last year that he wanted “to design the system that revolutionizes public education.” source
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5 comments:
More "entertainers" should do this. It would empower the community.
kudo's to will smith
I do applaud Will's intent here. As for some of his comments I can understand where they come from. In most of American schooling the achievements of African Americans or any people of color are a mere footnote. I allways found myself wondering where do I fit in as a black man. My main concern here is how would the adverage African Amercan be able to afford this? Not to mention those that are underprivilaged and really need specialized and talented educators. Why not use a model more like the one that Andre Agassi's utilizes. His school offers opportunities to underprivilaged kids in the Las Vegas area. See http://www.agassiprep.org/
His charitable foundation raised over $60 million for at-risk children in Southern Nevada back in 2001. Part of the monies help run the school. Oh by the way They offer Latin in thier language courses. Imagine that, latin at a pre high school level.
Hoteptoday
i agree with the above poster in that I do applaud Will Smith's intentions - however, how is the average africa-american family supposed to afford $12 000 a year for ONE child to attend elementary school? i imagine this school was created with african americans in mind - when you visit the site african americans are prominently featured in the site banner.
Very true, but private schools do tend to always be a bit pricey, hopefully there will be a financial aid set up or scholarship programs to help students with the cost of the tuition.
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