Page 332 - Cornerstone News Today

Above grade level and 95% go on to graduate high school. students here come with no special advantages. half live below the poverty line. fourth grader kaitlyn rogers recently transferred from public school to cornerstone. >> at my old school, nobody really cared. they fell asleep in the classroom. >> reporter: at cornerstone students, teachers, and parents care enough that the school year is 11 months long. >> yeah, only get one month of summer vacation. >> reporter: does that bother you? >> no...

This hallway is decorated with college banners so every day as students walk into the classroom, they see that goal of a college education. cornerstone constantly assesses students but doesnt teach to test like many public schools that focus on standardized exams. >> we need to know about every individual student, what makes that student tick, what makes that student learn, what are the challenges that that student is facing. >> reporter: teachers are so committed they work here even though many...

Earn less than they could in public school. parents or guardians also must make a commitment to be involved in their childs education. >> we say that you have a responsibility to no, not just e student. we expect you to be at parent teacher meetings and that the childs homework gets done. >> it involves three cs, a culture of education, commitment to learning and community, a nurturing environment embracing parents and professionals willing to mentor the children. >> reporter: they have plans to...

School. so its, like, were actually on vacation. >> reporter: easy to see why with after-school activities like fencing, a new experience for caitlin. >> cornerstone to me embodies what education should be. you get the reading, the math and arithmetic and youre learning how to be a well-rounded person, how to love each other, how to get along. >> cornerstone also motivates children to achieve. this hallway is decorated with college banners so every day as students walk into the classroom, they s...

♪ ♪ >> reporter: violin lessons for everyone begin in third grade. mandarin chinese is mandatory beginning in kindergarten and individualized computer challenges reinforce whats taught in a classroom. in a city plagued with academic underachievement, cornerstone schools one prief and the two charter schools that are pat of the public system are over achievers. students on average test a year above grade level and 95% go on to graduate high school. students here come with no special advantage...

Life and limb just to get here? do we have video of people coming off the boat? just a chance to have a better life. there is not even a guarantee of anything. its just a chance. people dont take their families through shark invested waters on a raft because theyre searching for a hand-out. they just want a chance. you heard it a million times. these people came for the hope of better life. they know in america all you need is a dream and elbow grease. anything is possible in this country. last ...

We have to remind the population that this is an important thing to do. it was a cornerstone of democracy. the founding fathers wanted this to happen and there is a lot of money involved as well as political power. >> whats the main concern from people -- why they dont want to fill it out? >> i think there are memories of the long form of the census. >> right. >> that doesnt exist anymore. this is a ten-question, shortest questionnaire we have ever used in my lifetime. thats one thing we have to...

Beyond the psychologist practicing license in new jersey. that is asking very intrusive questions. they are questions that are making people very concerned as to where does this information go. is my hr person going to know this. can i be able to trust that the relationship will be private and sanctified. the surgeon general in 1999 spoke about therapy works and confidentiality is actually the cornerstone that makes it work. >> but if the basis of the profitability of the health insurance compan...

Seven hours the president did say in the end this may boil down to just key differences. that the republicans do not believe in a huge government intervention in health care and it is something that the democrats have wanted for many, many years and it boils down to that. >> i think thats a pretty fair statement. the far right of the republican party does not believe in government intervention, period, especially not into the health care system. but there has always been a moderate wing of the r...

>> well have to wait and see. you mentioned, i want to go back to that statistic. you said 41% of young black men graduate high school. that would make sense if perhaps educators are leading the charge here and speaking at this conference. why specifically churches? why are these three major churches walking through this? taking a stand? >> reporter: you know, i kind of answered that a little bit in the beginning because when i talked to the people here, they say regardless of whats going on in ...