No one can knock the numbers. In recent years, students at Tucson’s Sonoran Science Academy have secured stellar scores in math, science and other categories. The academy has earned glowing mentions in national magazines such as U.S. News and World Report, and in 2009, was deemed Charter School of the Year by the Arizona Charter School Association.
But some parents of children who attend the academy on West Sunset Road believe it harbors goals reaching far beyond academia. They suspect the Sonoran Academy of being part of a confederation of learning institutions secretly linked to, and advancing, the cause of Turkish scholar and Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.
While most of those parents have resisted coming forward, fearing reprisal from an organization they say is known to target critics, one parent did agree to speak to the Weekly if we pledged to keep her identity hidden. The parent says she represents others at the academy who’ve become suspicious about the striking similarities of its educational programs to those of other schools around the United States which are operated by Turkish-born staff members.
She says teachers and administers freely circulate among these schools. At the same time, says the parent, the Sonoran Academy seems constantly to be bringing Turkish educators into the United States, and subjecting students to substitute teachers while the teachers await work visas.
According to this parent, all of these ties may lead covertly back to the Gülen movement, named for the scholar, who founded a network of schools around the world and now lives in exile in Pennsylvania. She says several Sonoran Academy parents believe the school has a hidden agenda to promote Gülen’s brand of Turkish nationalism, advance sympathy for that country’s political goals such as winning acceptance into the European Union, and discourage official acknowledgement of Turkey’s genocide against the Armenians during World War I.
“We found one document, in Turkish, that talks about the purpose of these charter schools,” says the parent. “They refer to them very explicitly as schools (belonging) to their movement. They’re calculating, and they say if they can have something like 600 schools, then every year, they can produce 120,000 sympathizers for Turkey.
“I sent my kids to this school because I wanted them to meet regular Muslims and to see them as ordinary people,” she says. “But when I find that my kids are to be turned into genocide-deniers, that’s very disturbing to me.”
Fatih Karatas is principal of the academy’s middle school. He calls such claims ridiculous.
“We don’t have any kind of connections or any kind of relations with that movement or group. A public school can not be affiliated in any way with other institutions or groups because of the regulations, because of the charters.”
He also says his school has a diverse staff, native to countries ranging from Turkey to Mexico, which he considers a benefit. “But we’re not promoting a certain ideology. … These are defamatory allegations that are not based on any proof or evidence.”
Still, the Sonoran Academy isn’t the first Turkish-American-run charter school in United States to be accused of links to Gülen. Parents at the Beehive Science and Technology Academy in Holladay, Utah, have also raised concerns that their school is linked to this movement. And according The Salt Lake Tribune, one Beehive teacher was fired when his lesson plan about World War II and the Holocaust prompted a discussion in which the school’s principal purportedly questioned that genocide.
Although Utah’s State Charter School Board cleared Beehive of deliberately promoting Gülen beliefs, lawmakers there have continued to probe its finances. The school-board investigation revealed that Beehive received loans from administrators at other Turkish-American schools, and from executives of the Accord Institute, a California-based organization with a Turkish-American staff. Accord provides educational consulting services and develops education models for programs for schools including Tucson’s Sonoran Academy. But Karatas, calls the institute a “private organization,” and says he’s unaware of any ties between Accord and Gülen.
Other connections raise more questions. They include the Pacifica Institute, which operates the “Turkish Olympiads,” in which Sonoran Academy students are encouraged to participate. The Olympiad contests range from essay writing and singing to poetry composition. According to its Web site, the institute was formed by Turkish-Americans in California with a mission of promoting cross-cultural awareness.
In December, the Pacifica Institute co-hosted a Gülen conference with the University of Southern California, and actively promotes Gülen beliefs on its Web site.
Indeed, the Gülen movement’s own Web site seems to lay the groundwork for claims made by the Tucson parent. It discusses the group’s rapidly expanding, worldwide educational facilities which have “made Gülen’s network the most influential Turkish-Islamic movement both in Turkey and abroad. … In the field of education, this part of the identity is however not stressed and teachers from outside the (movement) work at these schools as well. They may be non-Muslims and in many cases the pupils have never heard of Fethullah Gülen.”
The Weekly was provided with a list of Turkish staff members that have rotated through various schools and the Accord Institute—another strategy promoted by the Gülen Web site.
Of course, all of this could be purely coincidental. But the Tucson mother says many parents feel increasingly betrayed by what they consider the Sonoran Academy’s ongoing secrecy.
“Other parents say, ‘I could almost be OK with this if they were out in the open about it.’ But the (school) has done such a phenomenal job of keeping this a secret.”
However, Karatas suggests those who make such claims are flirting with trouble.
“I’m hoping that they know that these are defamatory allegations which may put them in trouble later on. These are excelling schools. … I hope they are aware of what they’re doing.”
This article appears in Dec 31, 2009 – Jan 6, 2010.
What a revealing article! Especially how the Principal denies that there is any involvement with the Gulen organization. I really like how he gives this veiled threat that there will be trouble for anyone saying that they are involved with Gulen. This is a typical response that the Gulen members use to shut down discourse, funny how they supposedly are pro-dialog, yet they can’t stand any scrutiny. Don’t let their threats stop you from commenting on their organization. There is overwhelming evidence that they are all connected, for one thing how is it that teachers from the Sonoran academies end up teaching in Utah and California? But there is absolutely no connection? I find it a little more than ridiculous that such a huge number of Turkish academics would take it upon themselves to come to the U.S. just to improve our education system and that all of this is just a coincidence. Maybe they should just embrace the hoecfendi, and admit that they are connected.
I recently read Peter Balakian’s book, “The Burning Tigris” an excellent and disturbing account of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. It also talks about attempts by Turkey to infilitrate and influence America schools at the collegiate level to deny the activities that occured. Interesting that it now appears to be happening at the High School level as well.
Do not forget the fact that we are living in the U.S. and this country is proud of being a diverse and multi-cultural nation. As someone who closely follows the activities of the Gulen Movement, I find nothing to worry about these people. Principal is telling the truth because it’s the reality that the school doesn’t have an organic or official tie with Gulen Movement or Fethullah Gulen. Turkish teachers may respect Gulen and his ideas and even may be practicing muslims but that doesn’t make the school a Gulen institution. The school has a legitimate board of and regularly inspected by the officials of the local government.
Regarding the Armenian Genocide, it’s not officially accepted by the federal government and there is debate going on between historians whether it’s a genocide or a civil war. There is no law outside mandating to teach to school children the so called Armenian Genocide. Some teachers may have different perspectives and it’s not a big deal.
Let’s enjoy having this successful institution in our region.
The facts are hard to dispute:
From and IslamOnline/Reuters article:
“I love Turkey and it’s a language that lots of people speak,” Samiha, who recently participated in the annual Turkish Language Olympics in Istanbul, told Reuters on Sunday, June 7.
Samiha is one of thousands of students worldwide who study in some 500 schools associated with the brotherhood known as the “Fethullahcilar”, or disciples of Fethullah, in some 115 countries worldwide.
Nearly all the competitors are students of schools set up by a global network of millions of followers of the Turkish preacher and author.
“The world doesn’t see Turkey as a Muslim or a religious country, they see it as a bridge country between East and West,” Turkish language teacher Leyla Kayumova, who works in Arizona, told Reuters. (Leyla is a Daisy Education Corp.-Sonoran Science Academy Employee)
This school is a very successful school and we don’t have many of them in this country. The comments must be coming from a parent who has nothing but a bunch of prejiduce. We are living in U.S and seperating the school as Turkish and American is a very funny idea where almost half of the Country is not from U.S originally. People outside the U.S know each other before coming to U.S and form a community there. The same thing happens between the states. If you know someone there from your country of course you will get ideas from that person about the place, living, work etc. Yet I don’t think all Turkish people are born as teachers. There must be more people who have different jobs.
The news is most probably coming from a parent who is Armenian. There are lots of Armenians who DO NO ACCEPT THE SO-CALLED GENOCIDE though.
Also everyone knows Gulen in the world since he has been selected as the Most Intellectual Person in 2008 by Foreign Policy. Just google it and read it…. Gulen and his followers are all on the side OF PEACE and UNIVERSAL VALUES(which our MEDIA doesn’t like and promote :)). He is not a missionary or a secret agent. You don’t know about him doesn’t make him secret. If you read about him like me you will learn. LIke I said just google it or go to his own website
Gulen is a real muslim that the U.S MEDIA DOESN’T WANT TO SEE AND INTRODUCE TO U.S PUBLIC. Because the media wants to introduce Muslims as terrorists. They try to turn the world to a place where eveyone kills each other. This is our future unfortunately. But Gulen is trying to stop this with his activities and followers. I have lots of muslim friends besides others and real muslims are not terrorists as the media reflects.
These types of news always have targets but no proofs. Who knows someone who is jealous of the school’s success is trying to ruin everything.
Yet the charter schools need approval to be opened and maintain their operations. These associations have regulations and the people are smarter and closer than us to understand if there is a link between Gulen and the schools.
As a final comment 1) Gulen is a real Turkish muslim. 2) 99% of Turkey is muslim
3) A Turkish muslim comes to U.S to operate a business or a school 4) The school automatically becomes Gulen school
Is that what you are saying? Funny huh…
From Fethullah Gulen’s own webpage:
At that point, it should be noted that, the history of the [Gulen] movement in Europe and in Muslim World is quite short, but as a beginning, they have a good start in the Netherlands with almost all sorts of institutions and activities, in the United States with a striking rise in the amount of state-financed charter schools and in Kurdish controlled Northern Iraq with seven schools and despite a pretty slippery ground.
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-p…
“Karatas says he’s unaware of any ties between Accord and Gülen.”
Let me help Mr. Karatas out:
Ertan Salik, board member of Accord, has written four articles for Fethullah Gulen’s journal, Fountain Magazine.
http://www.fountainmagazine.com/author.php…
It is both funny and sad. How meaningful it becomes the quote by Albert Einstein: “It is easier to crack an atom, than a prejudice.” If that parent is so concerned, then why disguise your identity. It is fishy, and raises suspicion. This suggests that the parent is most probably alone, and not representing the majority, and definitely would not want to be pointed at. It is disappointing to see stories that are published on the basis of non-verifiable sources.
I have proof from the Gulen website that ties SSA to it. They are lying. We had our children there for 2 years but the Sharia tactics of discipline were too much. Do not deny if you do not know for sure what is going on there. I have seen it first hand.
The “sharia tactics of discipline?” Please. My daughter went there for four years and one of our biggest complaints was that the school has very lax enforcement of its own discipline policy.
Verify this please, you who are dening that they are connected:
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/component/se…
Leyla Kayumova is a teacher at the elementary school on Sunset.
She can be found in the following photos as well, with her husband who also works for SSA, and some others from the school.
http://fidtucson.org/index.html
It’s very disingenuous for Karatas to say they are not connected in any way. Why brag on the Gulen website about their accomplishments then?? I have other documents saved that they have since removed from their site.
In response to Joe04, what prejudice are you talking about? If you think that just because these schools are run by Muslims, then it is suddenly taboo to criticize them then you are living in a dreamland. As American citizens we have the right and responsibility to scrutinize where and what our tax dollars are being used for. It is easy to sit back and accuse others of prejudice, when you don’t have the wherewithal to investigate it for your self. After reading Karata’s threats of trouble towards anyone who suggests this connection, then it is quite obvious why the parent doesn’t want to be identified. Would you? What kind of trouble do you think he is talking about? Most likely a lawsuit, and for what? supposedly defamatory comments? JM has it right in bringing to light these links to Gulen’s own web sites, instead of throwing the Bigotry card into the fray, why don’t you take a little initiative and check into it yourself!!
I’m a bit disgusted this article was even written. As a graduate of SSA, I’ll vouch for the fact that I wasn’t brainwashed into any sort of Turkish nationalist movement. Quite honestly, I came out of that school knowing no more about Turkey or anything related to the country than I did going in. What I did learn was a great deal of math, English, history, government, economics, etc., etc. What a pity that I actually got a normal education!! Sorry to thwart these schemes. All in all, I believe this anonymous parent is just disgruntled because their little sweetheart wasn’t smart enough to cut it in a good school.
You know, it is pretty sad that you can judge this school so harshly because of a person’s speculations. Have any of you been to the school? Have any of you ever sat down in a class, whether it be Robotics to Turkish? No. I highly doubt that. I attended Sonoran Science Academy for the past seven years of my life. I have never once, been approached from any person involved with the school in regards to the Gulen government. I am a proud student of this school. I have particicpated in many Oratorical Contests because I had the oppurtunies not given to many other schools. If you would feel so inclined, then go to the school yourself and see the environment. It is an outrageous accusation, one founded solely because many of the teachers were not born on American Soil. It’s sad, that many people are closed minded about a school having a diverse culture.
And as for the comment about the Turkish Olympiad: many students from different schools attend such competitions. Just like how many Hispanic and other nationalities students participate in ESL. And many other students participate in competitions of different languages: French, Italian, Spanish, etc. Does this mean they are linked to the Italian Mafia, Zapatistas, or any other groups? Answer me that.
KatMcMurray:
Pacifica Institute, formerly known as Global Cultural Connections, sponsored the Turkish Olympiad you probably attended in Southern California. This is a video of an Olympiad you might have attended:
http://news.ebru.tv/en/special/Weekly%20Re…
Also, this is what two independent sources say about Pacifica Institute.
1. “Pacifica Institute which works in Southern California in support of the Gülen movement.”
http://www.faithhousemanhattan.org/faith_h…
2. “The Pacifica Institute is a foundation based upon the teachings of Fethullah Gülen.”
http://www.alf-mvc.org/?link_id=107
For my research, I would be interested in the names of the schools that attended these events. Thus far, all I can find are similar charter schools on the west coast in attendance.
I want all my comments to be verified, so here is the link to the Reuters article I posted earlier: http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US…
OK but is GulenAnswers the real Mr. Gulen or a cloaked member from the organization? I’m interested to know on this point, unbiased to the rest of the article’s contents as of yet. Reveal yourself.
To GulenAnswers: you totally misread Kat’s response. She didn’t attend any Turkey-related event like that. I know her personally, and she does speeches with American Legion. (So anti-American!! I can’t believe SSA has actually turned out students that can speak intelligently on democracy and the benefits of the American political system!)
Take some time read this
http://creepingsharia.wordpress.com/2009/0…
This is from the Gulen website.
“In terms of formal organization, all facilities set up by Gülen’s followers are independent units and promote themselves as such. Yet they are joined in an “educational network of virtue”, as all the leading figures were socialized within the cemaat, participate in the cemaat’s life and are connected to each other through the close interpersonal links of the cemaat.”
“In the field of education, this part of the identity is however not stressed and teachers from outside the cemaat work at these schools as well. They may be non-Muslims and in many cases the pupils have never heard of Fethullah Gülen. In this sense, the schools may not be considered as Gülen-cemaat schools. But this assumption would deny the fact that without Gülen and the people of the cemaat, who view their work as a religious service, these schools would not exist.”
-Discursive and Organizational Strategies of the Gülen Movement, Bekim Agai, 12 November 2005
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-p…
So it may not be a religious school but it is religious in its intent. That is how they got around the charter. Also I question the exhistance of them having a school on the Airbase also.
It isn;t just the Armanian genoside they deny the Jewish genoside as well.
http://www.sltrib.com/education/ci_1285551…
In Salt Lake the princapal there was also the vice principal of SSA here in Tucson. Be sure to read the comments there from othr parents in the community.
http://www.sltrib.com/education/ci_1389560…
Sonoran Science Academy is featured here on the Gulen Channel (you tube)
http://www.youtube.com/user/GulenMovement
A comment from the Salt Lake Tribune
Another thing, why is it that Beehive seems to be the only charter school in the state that is suffering such catastrophic financial problems with 5 years under their belt? Sorry, but you can’t use the “they’re a new school” argument anymore! The articles didn’t start until this past summer, yet they were in a financial tailspin long before then. Is it possible that they haven’t been being good stewards with OUR tax dollars? Stop blaming everyone else but the administration for their woes, they (Beehive admin) need to take responsibility. Other charter schools have had problems also, they just haven’t aligned themselves with a very questionable global organization (Fethullah Gulen Network), who is using our charter schools for their purposes. And if you think that a bunch of educators from Turkey have this altruistic dream of improving the American education system, then dream on. Why don’t they try to get permanent U.S. residency? They cycle in and out of the various schools like they’re going through a revolving door. Look at the new Administrator at Beehive, Mr. Murat Biyik, he was at a school in Tuscon, prior to Beehive, then went to the Magnolia Schools in Los Angeles, then to Accord Institute, and now back to Beehive, all within the space of 5-6 years, hmmm. By the way Accord Institute is also part of the Gulen network, look into it, or you can just write this off as another smear campaign based on religion and ethnicity.
****************************************************************
From my observation unfair hiring practices, sexism and racist. They may not teach Islam but it is clear in there actions and words. I don’t know who the parent was in the article but alls I can to this GOOD JOB !!
I also want you to know that this school had also tried to conceal an investagtion of sexual harrassment from a parent. When I complained to the principal Mr Karatas about it he had threaten me with a lawsuit. When it was I should have been threatening him!!
When I started to post about Gulen online that was when his lawyer sent me this letter. They do not appoligise or hold there staff accountable for anything. I read an article where a music teacher in a different public school gets busted for taking the band to Hooters but at SSA a teacher can go on a party to Sodona on a return trip from SAT camp with two students where heavy drinking was going on but nothing happens; even with pictures sent.
If you have a problem with charter schools you are wasting your time going to the Arizona State Board of Charters schools you have to go the Department of Education you have 120 days to file. They stalled and won that dispute. From what I hear I am not the only parent where the school harrassed parent about shot records, when they do not want a child to attend. This was told to me by parents from Colorado and Texas. Her shot records were fine. I have no idea who the parent was that talked to the reporter but good job. If you ever want to share information I’d be more than happy to.
Bill Thacker
Re: Sonoran Science Academy
Dear Mr. Thacker
As you are aware, this firm represents Daisy Education Corporation dba
Sonoran Science Academy (“SSA”). SSA has been aware for several months
that you are posting defamatory, insulting and inflammatory comments
about SSA on craigslist. These posts are resulting in a significant
disruption of the SSA community. Furthermore SSA may be suffering
potential financial damages as a result of the false statements you are
circulating in the online community.
SSA responded numerous times to your complaints and concerns, responded
to the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools and has allowed you to
continue making defamatory comments on the internet for several months.
Now it must stop.
If you do not immediately cease posting SSA will pursue litigation against you, including an injunction to prohibit further publication of defamatory statements and a lawsuit for damages. SSA has been tracking and collecting evidence of your defamatory
statements. Including copies of your posts on craigslist and will
utilize this evidence in a lawsuit against you if necessary.
Very Truly Yours,
Heather K. Gaines
Dear Ms. Gaines,
Thank you for your letter dated June 29. I have reviewed it and would
make these points.
1. The “slap suit” is not a new idea but seems like a radical step for
a charter school. That school to sue a parent who had a poor experience
at Sonoran Science would appear to have a chilling effect on the
aforementioned school’s ability to attract new students. Is it truly in
the best interest of your client to have such a reputation?
2. For a school filing a slap suit on a working-class single dad would
be such a novelty that it would risk lending media credibility and a
much larger platform for me to make my case. That charges would be
hashed and rehashed and whatever harm done on Craig’s List would be
magnified. And, as you are aware, gaining prior restraint against the
media is an extremely high bar.
3. I sold plasma to buy my daughter lunch and Sonoran Science staff
threw it away, refusing to give it to her. That’s pretty compelling.
4. Should you pursue legal action, your firm would make money off
billable hours but every dime spent on pursuing a father struggling
through the current economic challenges is a dime not spent teaching
children. Is this the proper role of state and donation money that is
supposed to be spent on children?
5. How much are you willing to turn over during discovery? You are
claiming that I am wrong in my assertions against Sonoran Science. I
would then have the right to prove I’m not wrong. I’m not a lawyer
(public school advocates may take an interest but let’s assume they
don’t) and you can beat me back. But that’s more scut work for you,
more money coming out of class rooms and more risk of media attention.
6. All I want is an apology for: a) Not informing me of an
investigation concerning my daughter’s accusation that a teacher had
acted sexually inappropriately toward her; b) Forcing me no end of
headache when both myself and doctors repeatedly provided records of
immunization records Sonoran Science never seemed to get as they
threatened to keep my daughter from class. Felt like harassment; and c)
Throwing away a sandwich I bought with, literally, blood money. D) When
informing the principal of the school he ignored my concerns and
threatened me with a lawsuit. An apology, one for me and one to my
daughter.
I find it bizarre that you would threaten me with legal action for
criticizing a public institution on a Web Site not typically covered by
libel rules. I currently earn $12 an hour. I rent. I even rent my
furniture. I have a car payment. I am a student. I send money to my
ex-wife for my daughter. How much cash do you think you can get from
me? Moreover, how many parents will send their children to a school
that sues unhappy “customers”? They are a business.
Food for thought.
Regards,
Bill M. Thacker
What ever happened to the teacher that filed this complaint, what happened to the teacher (who was Turkish) that was locking the kids in closets. I bet he kept his job. It had been discribed to me as a cultural difference. The teacher did not know better. ( I guess thats how they teach school in Turkey)
Again if this was a public school ….You may be able to pull this record from the Sherriff’s department. Just imagine, these are public schools privately owned and operated. Yet they answer to no one!!
This was a news article posted a few years back.
Closets are for Clothes
“She reportedly expressed concern for all the children at the school.”
West Ina Road and North La Cholla Boulevard, July 3, 10:40 a.m.
Students at a local school complained to a teacher that one of her colleagues repeatedly shut them in a closet, according to report from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
One day, a student reportedly made a comment to a female teacher about being detained in a male teacher’s classroom closet at the Sonoran Science Academy, 2131 W. Ina Road. At first, the woman thought the boy–a known prankster–was joking, the record said.
Later, the boy commented about being stationed in the closet a little more than 90 minutes by the same man, the female teacher alleged. This time, she said, she asked the boy if he was sincere.
At this point, about six other students reportedly claimed they had either been placed in the closet by the male teacher or had seen him put someone in it.
The female teacher informed authorities that both she and the male teacher’s closets have desks in them. The students reportedly told her that they were shut in there with instructions not to sit down, turn on the light or open the door–which, she said, doesn’t have a lock.
The woman told authorities a child developed asthma from, she believed, either being locked in the closet or being threatened with it. She reportedly expressed concern for all the children at the school.
The female teacher was given a case number and the phone number to the Criminal Investigations Division.
I found this on google: odtv a Turkish news source:
They call it Gulen’s Raytheon like he owns it,,,,,,It also mentions SSA. But they are not connected or linked in anyway ???
RAYTHEON GÜLEN OKULLARI’NA BAĞIŞ YAPIYOR – [ Translate this page ]Raytheon’un Turkiye’deki ilişkilerini kimin takip ettiğini de bir sonraki haberimize bırakalım şimdilik. Ama Washington’daki bu ismin çok uzun süredir Gülen …
http://www.odatv.com/n.php?n=raytheon-gulen-okull…… – Cached
http://www.odatv.com/n.php?n=raytheon-gule…
Use this link …its translated to english by google. So it may read funny but the message is clear.
http://www.freemustafaemanet.com/
I’m rather curious as to why, with a surplus of qualified US Citizen teachers, this school is importing teachers on presumably HB1 visas. I would also be interested to learn the citizenship status of this principal.
And as a responsible parent with any school we have had experience with, I find it necessary to fill in and correct mis-information and propaganda imparted to my children. The question of the Armenian Genocide is academic; I have made sure my children fully understand what genocide means.
According to the Salt Tribune the history teacher was fired for wanting to teach about Holocaust Nazi Germany. The principal there believes it never happened.
With 7,000 teachers laid off last year that is a good question. There are no women or Non-Turks in adminastration either. This is all over the country. I beleive they are in violation of a law or two here. In my opinion, they are sexist and racist.
There was legality by the International Law than Armenian Genocide took place. By International Law than highting military or top government officate must order it. England,French and America investigate after WWI ended and found no evidence of than written command of evidence of than genocide. Since then we have Turkeyphobic hate monger than america like Robert Spencer who illegality say that Turkey carry out genocide against the Armenian who where openly aiding the Russian in WWI so they where rebellion against than lawful state. There is very good evidence that Hilter sign order to carry out genocide against the Jew and other durning WWII.
When ever you question Mr Karata’s authority at least in my opinion. Like he did me the first time I knew there was something very wrong. Only a paranoid and fearful person would have made such a threat with no way to back it up. In any other situation a normal person over a public school or charter would have held those accountable.
Cited:
http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisdefini…
A charismatic, self-appointed leader with complete authority – Cult members are taught not to question the teachings, practices, or ideas of the leader.
Many cult leaders truly are charismatic people, and are able to influence people to believe them. It is common that a cult member is not told everything up front when joining the group, but that they are taught increasingly controlling ideas and teachings as they go. In the case of some of the more well-publicized cults that have come and gone, it is also common that the leader’s ideas and demands evolve over time, becoming increasingly controlling and restrictive. One very clear identifying element dealing with the leader of a cult is that the leader will always focus the attention and veneration of the members upon himself or herself. At the heart of a cult usually lies a very self-centered and self-seeking person.
A focus on withholding truth from non-members – Many cults teach their followers to be completely open and truthful within the group, while at the same time they are encouraged to be secretive and evasive when questioned by people outside of the group. This is another form of mind control-instilling guilt in the members if they hold anything back within the group. The members are taught that outsiders wouldn’t understand or that they would only make fun of the ideas and practices and requirements for living within the group. Only specially-commissioned members are appointed to recruit members from outside. New members are usually encouraged to keep silent or even lie, especially to their families and close friends.
The three elements listed above are very successful ways to create a group mentality, an us-against-them way of looking at things. This is essential for any cult that wants to keep its members. The more afraid of the outside world the members become, the more strongly and faithfully they will keep within the safe fold of the cult.
This was taken from a local blog by a parent who atteneded their open house not once but twice.
I am one of those who will not send my kids to that school.
I’ve been there twice for their open houses and each time come away with a very bad feeling about the staff. They were very terse and didn’t show any interest in what my wife and I (along with our two children) had to say. In fact, the first thing I was asked when I walked through the prison gates there was “do you work here or have a child who goes here?” When I asked why they would ask me that, the answer I received was: “Oh, we don’t like people who do not have a connection with Sonoran Science Academy to be on our grounds.” The answer came very Stepford Wife like. As did many of the answers to our questions we had about the school.
I’ve talked with people in the Casas Adobes neighborhood who have said the staff has been known to be use the facilities until the early morning for their children. Which leads me to believe that the tuition money is going to pay the electric bill in their big gym while family members of staff play basketball or volleyball. They also say the staff and parents have been known to tear along the streets of the neighborhood without slowing down for children.
Would you really like your kid to go to a place like that?
The parent is out of her mind. The charter school is a choice and not a home school. Parent is probably angry becuase either her kid failed or she is one of those parents who have no accountability and blame all her problems on the school rather getting involved in her child’s education.
I got an idea. Instead of accusing the school of whatever secret she is talking about, why doesn’t she get involved in her child’s education and get a life. Chill out woman.
For those traveling to Turkey on school sponsored trips:
This is from River City Science Academy, a similar charter school, in Florida.
River City Science Academy
3th Annual International Trip to Turkey
Spring Break, 2010
TENTATIVE INTERNATIONAL TRIP ITINERARY
3rd Day Istanbul
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Dolmabahce Palace
12:30 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Miniaturk
3:30 pm Bosphorus Tour by Ferry
**6:00 pm Dinner (Coskun College – Sister School of FSA)**
9th Day Istanbul
8:00 am Breakfast
**9:30 am Fatih University**
12:30 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Army Museum
7:00 pm Dinner Return Hotel
*Coskun College – Sister School of FSA
This is interesting because they name Coskun a sister school which “was founded by Fethullahci, followers of the spiritual Islamic leader Fethullah Gülen, one of the most influential people in Turkey. The pedagogical project is inspired by Gülen’s principles of progress, enlightenment and development.” Also interesting is FSA did not publish this information. River City Science Academy did. FSA is Fulton Science Academy a charter school in Alpharetta, GA.
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:KHA2ZN…
*”Fatih University in Istanbul is one of seven Gulen universities in the world”
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:x9LA1k…
I just canot believe it, in the US of all places, in a Tucson school where parents are threatened if they do not keep their mouths shut, to be frightened by such animals……………….these frightened people should go to Normandy and take names from some of the crosses, then these frightened visitors should look up the relatives of these fallen GI´s and damned well tell them why they are so scared to protect the freedom of speech that these utterly braves young guys died for. Are you really such a frightened crowd of Dhimmis down there in Tucson? for Gods sake stand up to these facsists.
I have a very interesting question. How can this school afford to expand three schools in two years. One of them on Davis Monthin AFB. This teacher who works for SSA blogged on a Turkish website stating that he has not been paid three months. What about his bills and his family? Why would he hang on and tolorate such treatment? He stated “WE” have not been paid. I bet the American teachers got paid. Someone should look at there books. I think I see some labor violations. If this is the truth……
Not to mention according to all news sources charter schools have NOT been effected by cutbacks at the state and federal level in Arizona. If you read SSA Nov. newsletters to the parents he states that they have been and is asking for more donation money. (fraud) in my opinion.
Here is the blog from a teacher. His name is Bilal temel. The posting is in Turkish..It was on thewebsite called odatv.com But here is a brief translation: (He is responding to the story, saying the school is getting donations from Raytheon)
“The story is not true. I am working at the SSA can tell you that theschool did not receive this money and we were subject to the same cuts as the other schools in Arizona. We have not been paid for 3 months.There is belt tightening everywhere.
There is no investigation going on about our school. It is a successful school and has been ranked as 101.in the US Education system. There was a parent who got into an argumentrelated to the wife of a personnel in the school and he has been given arestraining order not to get closer to school more than 500 meters. Get accurate information about our school before writing. The School is nota Turkish school it is a Charter School in the US System” //////////////////////
TEMEL28/07/2009 00:16YALAN HABER BEN SONORAN SCIENCE ACADEMY DE CALISAN BIRISI OLARAK,OKULLARA BOYLE BIR PARA GIRISI OLMAMIS VE EXTRA BIR ODEME YAPILMADIGIGIBI ARIZONA DAKI OKULLRA NE KADAR PARA KESILDI ISE AYNI MIKTARLARBIZDEN DE KESILDI VE 3 AYDIR MAAS ALAMIYORUZ,YANI AYNI SIKINTI HERYERDEMEVCUT. OKULLAR ILE ILGILI BIR SORUSTURMA YOK ,AKSINE BASARILARI ILEOVGU ILE SOZ EDILEN OKULLAR OLMUSTUR. ABD DEKI BUTUN LISELER ARASINDAOKULUMUZ 101. OLMUSTUR.VELI MESELESI DE OKULDA CALISAN BIR PERSONELINESI ILE ARASINDA CIKAN GECMISIZLIGI NEDENI ILE BU SAHIS OKULUMUZA 50OMETRE YAKLASAMAMA CEZASI ALMIS PSIKOLOJIK RAHATSIZLIGI OLANBIRISIDIR.LUTFEN OKULUMUZDAKI YETKILILERDEN BILGI ALARAK DOGRU HABERYAPIN VE BU OKUL TURK OKULU DEGIL ABD DEKI CHARTER OKULLARDAN BIRIDIR.KAMU OYUNA SAYGI ILE DUYRULUR. BILAL TEMEL
Two words: “Crazy parent.”
Intrepid…….Now that story was really un-called for.
cma2010…..Your comments are just name calling. Do you have anything to offer other than you feel the Mother’s child was washing out? If you decide to come to the table, please being something that would create for a sound argument.
Regarding the denial that the Accord Institute is associated with Gulen: In summer 2008 Fatih Karatas and other teachers and administrators from Sonoran Science Academy attended an “Admin and Teacher Workshop” at the Accord Institute. The directions given in the workshop brochure say “Hotel to Pacifica Institute” and “Pacifica Institute to Hotel.” Many of the workshop sessions were held in rooms of the Pacifica Institute. The floor plan given in the brochure shows that Pacifica and Accord occupy the same building at 17851 Sky Park Circle, Irvine, CA, 92614. The Pacifica Institute’s association with Fethullah Gulen can be clearly seen on its website.
ATTENTION PLEASE!!!!! EXCUSE ME!!! PLEASE READ!!!
Sorry about the caps, I just have a short, humble message I would very much like to share with whoever will read what I have to say.
This article makes me very sad.
Its goal is to be inflamitory, so I shouldn’t be suprised that my airway passages are tightening, and my emotions are taking a sharp turn for the worst.
I was born, raised and educated in Arizona and I have always held that we Arizonans are different, we’re an open people willing to learn from others, we are somehow able to accept diversity, I just know it!!
My pride and esteem for Arizona is not supported by this tabloid trash at all, and I don’t mean to be inflamitory myself, the TW has a great archive of goodness. I’m just shocked beyond belief at how terrible this one article is!
Now, even in my beautiful ARIZONA hate has prevailed and anyone from any Muslim country is under scrutiny. 🙁 Also there are Turkish Christians and Jews…Scared of them too?
It’s clear Arizona needs these intelligent people to help support our schools. Everyone knows that our tax dollars sure as heck are not supporting them.
Arizona is an incredibly diverse state and that diversity brings more to us than we know to be thankful for.
On behalf of MY people in Arizona, the people who so appreciate diversity and everything that the wonderful people of Turkey (and other places) are doing here, I am sorry to each and every Turk and Muslim who will suffer because of this article! I am so very sorry. You do not deserve this! Americans also do not deserve this, not all of us are like this!!
If you are convinced that Gulen has his plots to take over America with his Turkish robot educators (which again makes no sense seeing as he advocates for not entering the EU. Why would he aim to manipulate Americans in leu of Europeans? Geographically speaking, Europe is far easier than America to corrupt..)
Anyway forgive that tangent. Please see for yourself and open up one of his 50 books on propegating peace and love. Read any one of his hundreds of articles, he discusses and emphasizes in great detail the need for interfaith work, tolerance, discussion, love and compassion. Which is a good thing.
His movement is geared entirely towards peace, development and human rights.
Really, there are libraries folks, it costs you nothing to educate yourself.
Nevermind the politics of Armenia, Gulen had nothing to do with that and it is a stretch to try and tie him to it.
Believe me, Americans would not appreciate similar treatment!
Turkey is trying so hard to spearhead a new way of human interacting, based in positive Islamic principles and there are Americans, Europeans and Muslims who know that and who are greatful for it.
To read more about Fetullah Gulen and all of his “terroristic” and “nationalistic” literature please refer to The Fountain Magazine webpage, and The official page of Fetullah Gulen, as well as the webpage for The Foundation for Intercultural Dialogue. YOU WILL BE AMAZED.
Fetullah is an Islamic religious leader and scholar, he has spent most his life trying to positively change religious tensions, to improve religious interpretations and to make good ideas accessible to everyone. Two out of the three web pages listed above have an Islamic outlook, but from what I have read no beheadings, honor killing, J word, “terrorist talk” there… So they will differ greatly from the claims of this article and comments on Islam in the media at large.
If you have made up your mind already about Muslims and Islam your interaction
with such information will be difficult so you should anticipate that.
If you are still on the fence about 1.5 billion people native to almost every country in the world including Turkey, then I invite you to check it out.
Fewer than 1 and 4 people have a positive view of Islam.
Yet, 1 out of 4 people are Muslim.
Those are bad odds that don’t lead to world peace and this article certainly is not helping.
In the name of peace and intelligence!!
Love,
~ A very disappointed ex TW reader and fan
Really, you’re trying to take down Gulen? That is like trying to discredit Mother Teresa.
By the way if Mother Teresa can be cool, and Ghandi can be cool, and Thich Nit Hah can be cool, and any of the other visionaries from any of the world religions can be cool, then GULEN can too be very very cool!
As for SSA. Rock on!!!!!!
We love the school and all the Turks (and others) who run it!!!
-ex TW reader
Talk about a story with so little behind it. Guilt by innuendo. Only a third of the students are Muslim – have any of the non-muslim students been prosletyzed? No, not a single allegation. Have any meetings been held at the school to advance some agenda? Never observed or alleged. Sick story that hurts people without cause.
So this is America rooting its basis on diversity?? I think all of us should consider that America in the future will be more colorful than now and more powerful if and only if we stop having prejudices like this..
We have to keep in mind that there are hundreds of thousands of Mexican and/or Hispanic originated Americans here in Az.So shall we expect a Hispanic threat? 🙂 Actually this is more logical if one compares the population of Turkish people and Mexican people in entire USA,so shall we take precautions against this threat???May be they have a hidden agenda!!
YOU SHOULD BE KIDDING!!!!
By the way the school is also organizing trips to Mexico and some other South American countries as well as providing Spanish courses!! 🙂 Funny right!! It’s got to have a hidden agenda!! 🙂
Also they are having drama performances for the last 4-5 years,SSA students are all involved,Hey what type of an Islamic movement is this that they are mixing girls and boys in a unique drama? 🙂 so this should have a hidden agenda,huh?
A Turkish(i am sorry to mention his nationality,i feel bad,since we are all Americans!) Math Teacher of SSA Tucson got the best Math teacher award from Raytheon,i guess Raythen has a hidden agenda?? 🙂 May be they will use these gifted international teachers for their HIDDEN!!! purposes.. 🙂
To conclude such articles should not act like courts and the reporters should be aware of their responsibilities to enlighten the society with the facts in stead of suspects.
By Aristo;father of Logic
Falcon9 –of course it has never been alledge that at all. The article never in anyway stated that they are teaching Islam to children. The concern here is “where is the transparancy?”
The parents feel as if they had been mislead. They feel that the school has misrepresented itself to the public, families and to the tax payer. Gulen claims fame and eludes that these are his schools. If not for him they would not be here at all. If you go back and read the comments and follow the links, these may not be religious schools; however we are concerned that it is religious in the intent. Is that hard to understand? These parents have done their own research and have been afraid for a reason. This is a valid concern.
The teacher at Beehive was fired. Other teachers have complained of paycuts due to challenging authority. Mr. Wayment was on the board and was threatened for asking questions and talking to other parents about Gulen. The board of directors all the way down to the Vp are Turkish males. Never a woman never an outsider. Would you say this promotes favoritism? Could it be viewed as being sexiest or even racist? Have these jobs when ever they come open are they offered in the paper for key positions? But these schools are not connected in anyway? It seems very blatent.
Most teachers have never taught at other schools. This is there first school. With 7,000 out of work do you suppose as a business one could hire one with more experiance at the same cost?
Also, from this article you can see again the parents who came forward conceiled themseves because as they had assumed and were afraid they would be threatened. That last sentence by Karatas only confermed their fears.
They are telling everyone else there are Gulen schools. Why will they not tell the parents?
“My way into this area of research, which has taken me in the past three years to the U.S. to visit schools related to Fethullah Gülen and to Turkey.”
“My encouters [sic] within these schools had begun in the USA-where there are both primary/elementary and high schools.”
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-p…
“As our journey continued our primary guide discussed his experience as principal of a public charter school in Los Angeles, California that he created based upon the spiritual values of Fethullah Gülen.”
http://www.interfaithcommunitychurch.org/A…
“Of course there are many of these schools in Turkey, but also in other countries with Turkish populations, as well as in many Muslim countries such as Afghanistan and Egypt, and even in the United States. In fact, there are Gülen schools here in Houston.”
http://bennettlawfirm.typepad.com/abraham_…
Gulen is wide open with his intentions.
I think we could reasonbly argue that these schools may not be religious but is releigious in the intentions and therefore mislead and misrepresented themselves to the state and to the community; is in violation of there charter and therefore the charter should be revoked.
Read this blog from Daivid Safier.
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/01…
[ Then there’s this statement from Fatih Karatas, the middle school principal, which gives possible validity to their fears.
“I’m hoping that they know that these are defamatory allegations which may put them in trouble later on. These are excelling schools. … I hope they are aware of what they’re doing.”
When a school warns parents not to air concerns, that concerns me. As I’ve written many times, transparency is one of the keys to allowing people to know more about the quality of charter schools. Even if these parents’ concerns are groundless — I don’t know one way or another — the parents should not feel afraid to share them freely. ]
If the parents could only do some research (the internet is a good start) they would realize that Turkey controlled schools are deniers, always have been, always will be.
The genocide of Armenians, Assyrians, Kurds and Greeks by the Kemal Islamic state are a taboo subject, yet respected and accepted the world over.
Turkey has been known to influence with bribery business, politicians and now we find that they’re into education. Well, what next!
Does anyone ever remember getting a school news letter where Mr. Karatas announced to the students and staff that if you feel bullied, harrassed or made uncomfortable in anyway to tell somebody? Tell a parent , tell a friend, tell a teacher to tell somebody?
Guess what? They did!!
Then he threatens to make parents, friends and teachers to make them uncomfortable. Kind of a hypocrate you think?
Unfortunately there are people who have access to the internet to spread their paranoid theories. I am a proud parent of a SSA student and I have had the privilege to play an active role in his education. By doing so, I got the privilege to work with an incredible group of teachers and administration.
My son has been a student at SSA for last a few years. He has attended sleepovers, winter and summer camps, extracurricular and academic enrichment activities, after school tutoring, e.t.c.. Like many other parents at SSA, I volunteered to chaperone some of these activities. I talk to my children regularly about what and how they are learning in school, I have never had a concern about the curriculum or the staff at SSA. What I know is that my child is getting prepared for college and he already took a few AP courses and is planning to take dual enrollment courses next year. He has had dedicated group of diverse teachers.
I did research about Mr.Gulen over the weekend and I found nothing concerned me. He inspired his people to do good deeds for the benefit of not only Muslims but all human beings. Where is the harm in this? It is normal for such visionary leaders to have enemies fabricating false evidence to tarnish his image. Like inpeaceandfreindship said he can be cool too. I think everyone should like those who work for or talk in favor of peace, love, dialogue, justice, tolerance, equity, and quality education. Teachers are normal human beings and they have their like and dislikes too. It is their private life; we should share mutual respect for each other.
I highly doubt that the So-Called-Concerned-Parent is trying to tear down our school community simply because she was not able to manipulate administration to conduct business in a way she aspired for.
Charter Schools are also known as School Choice that lets us send our children to the school of our choice regardless of income or location we live in. We choose schools based on our child’s needs.
It is a fact that SSA produces superior academic outcome.
The article says:
“No one can knock the numbers. In recent years, students at Tucson’s Sonoran Science Academy have secured stellar scores in math, science and other categories. The academy has earned glowing mentions in national magazines such as U.S. News and World Report, and in 2009, was deemed Charter School of the Year by the Arizona Charter School Association.”
PROUD PARENT at SSA
The principal’s statement that the school is doing nothing wrong because of the fact that state regulations prohibit certain things is silly. His threatening of critics is deplorable and should raise suspicions. Wouldn’t the best response (if there truly is nothing to the story) have been to welcome more scrutiny so the allegations could be proven false?
I went to this school and I was never part of any movement. If you would like to stand around and let xenophobia attack any sense of morality or common decency you have, then fine. The school has some reasons why you shouldn’t send you’re kind there, just like any school, but to deny this school the deserved credit of pushing students as far as they can and making them better students than they thought they could be, is wrong. Don’t let this article change your opinion of this school.
-Kiara
Concerned,
this whole business about “interfaith dialog”,is phony from start to finish. It is designed to let ignorant non-Guleners think that they are interested in interfaith dialog when, in fact, there is no dialog.
True dialog (truth) requires both sides to lay their cards on the table and talk about serious differences. “Interfaith dialog”, by contrast, is designed to make it appear that there are no serious differences. You cannot have a dialog when you met with fear tactics and threats. No one ever wants to get caught conceiling an ace up their sleeve.
This article entirely one-sided and quite frankly, laughable. If the reporter would even attempt to get the facts straight, he would note that history is not even taught by the Turkish teachers. Try covering both sides of the story, next time.
Tucson Weekly has lost all credibility. I went to the school for six years and, surprise surprise, never had anything pushed on me. The teachers are the most devoted people you can imagine; I have had conversations until 6 pm discussing robotics, english, etc., and never once had any ideals pushed on me. This ‘news source’ has been little more than yellow journalism for some time now, I’m not really sure why this article surprised me.
Keep up the reporting, Tim. Be fair, be accurate, be thorough. But keep reporting and don’t be knocked off the job by charges of discrimination or xenophobia. The facts will speak for themselves.
Dear readers,
First of all, as a proud graduate from this high school, I would like to make it clear that I was treated with complete respect by the entire faculty and administration and learned a great deal of subjects from a diverse group of teachers which included Americans, Turks, and several natives. These accusations by the parent are quite ridiculous, and while this parent much have such an opinion, they have no proof to back up their outrageous claim. The educational atmosphere of this school is one of the most rewarding in my opinion and I have never before seen any Turkish teacher try to promote a Nationalist Movement. You don’t simply judge the entire school based on the fact that it’s run by a Turkish faculty and immediately connect it to the Gulen movement because it’s simply suggesting something that you have no substantial evidence of.
Karatas on the other hand has full interest in moving this school forward by making sure the students are given the necessary tools to excel in their academics and extracurricular activities and I have seen that first hand when I became a graduate who visits the school occasionally to meet his teachers, therefore I don’t see why people must antagonize the principal for keeping this school at it’s finest and promoting a cultural diversity amongst it’s students. As the principal of the school, I certainly think that he has the right to defend our school against speculations from parents who are prejudiced towards political agendas and see it fit to cause an outrage over something that has no tangible proof.
SSA has been recognized for the past few years as an excelling charter school because of it’s astounding achievements in academics therefore I would like to point out that this article is defending these harsh claims, or at least suggesting them to the readers. Regardless of the fact that there are Turkish teachers on campus, just as there may be on any other school campus in Arizona, this shouldn’t change the idea that this school has an excelling academic system which was reached through the diversity of it’s teachers, the administration itself, and willingess of students to strive and achieve.
Regards,
SSA Alumnus
I currently attend SSA (and have been for several years) and have never heard any of my Turkish teachers even mention anything about the Armenian genocide. Islam, religion, and politics in general are rarely talked about. In fact, most of them seem to try to avoid those topics. In all honesty, I have never felt like they were trying to impose their ideas and opinions on me in any way. How would they be brainwashing us if they don’t even discuss these things with us? It doesn’t make any sense. Also, I’ve been to (and have competed in) a few of the olympiads held at Pacifica Institute. SSA competes in them because a lot of students are in Turkish classes, not because they’re plotting to brainwash us all. It’s a learning experience; a chance to practice the language and maybe even win something. And of course SSA and Pacifica are connected, but not in a weird creepy evil plot-ish way. A lot of the people who work at Pacifica are friends with teachers at SSA(either from back in Turkey or just meeting during the olympiads). So in the end, the parents are obviously overreacting and being oversuspicious and crazy and there’s no real proof provided in this article.
This is for ex students-
I heard that the office has a very strict policy that when ever a parent drops something off at the office that you may have forgotten, like homework, a lunch or backpack, that under no cirumstances “ever” that you will not be called to the office to retrieve anything at time. Is this the truth? No has ever been called to the office for any of these things?
To Ex SSA Parent:
Yes, that’s true. It’s just so it doesn’t interrupt class. If they made an announcement for every student that forgot their backpack, calculator, lunch, whatever, we would never get anything done.
But doesn’t everyone get at least 30 min for lunch? why not then?
Yeah, we get around that much time for lunch. They can’t do it then either because they have other stuff that they have to do. It’s the student’s responsibility to remember to bring their backpack, lunch, etc to school. And parents are perfectly able to call their children themselves to tell them that they have things in the office that they can pick up during passing periods/lunch.
I haven’t heard anything about the school not notifying parents/authorities about bullying, harassment, students harming themselves or others, etc.
I would really love to know where you’re getting all of this information from… 😛
Not all kids have cell phones; but hey wouldn’t that be distraction also? The school secretary refused to tell me anything about anything. Could not tell me who the schools volleyball coach was, no information on resources like school counselors, no information about after school programs. She just did not have the answers for anything. I find it very odd that a secretary can call a child to the office to ask about inoculation shots but cannot call a kid to get lunch. I received phone calls, made phone calls, had faxes sent in regards to shot records to prove they were current. They seem to never have gotten the faxes. I almost got fired from a new job dealing with that issue. When I refused to budge knowing they were fine they got the point and it became an oversight. As a single parent my time is very important.
Not to mention Mr. Bayraktor. I had a visit with him and when I talked to him about some issues regarding my child he said nothing he just stared at me blankly. Either he was just shining me on or he did not understand English at all. I refuse to believe that he did not understand me.
He also grabbed her on the first day of school to tell her that they knew who the bad kids are and that she was being watched. From there everything went downhill. It was nothing more than picking on a kid who may not have the academics or habits of other kids. But wasn’t I asking questions trying to get information to get her caught up? They wanted to single out a kid for things that were not her control.
I have heard the shot issue from other parents at other Gulen schools. It’s a ploy to frustrate parents and when they have had enough they pull the kid out.
SSA was the worst experience I have ever had with any school. My daughter was only there for four months. She notified a teacher about another who would yell at kids and throw things at them. But to her she had received gifts and would (made her very uncomfortable) the teacher notified the principal they had an investigation and never notified me. I did not know until after a month she was out of the school. Why didn’t she tell me? She was afraid that I would get into trouble. When she was about eight she was playing with another kid and the kid’s dad had hit her. Without going into details, I took care of it.
I will be the first one to say my kiddo is not a saint. I will tell you all kids are lying until you get to the heart of matter. But by hiding it, if it was the truth did they keep her in harms way? I don’t know this guy. Did they deny my right to choose? From there I could have met with everyone and gotten to the bottom of everything and make an informed decision. It seems teacher principals and staff just doesn’t want to do anymore than have to. To hide anything like that from a parent is most inexcusable.
So with you my friend I think the discussion will end there. Thanks for the information. As a graduate do yourself a favor… Go to college. Work can wait… it’s better to starve now than later. Get the degrees, because without it life pretty much sucks. The biggest resentment you’ll have in life is the things you did not do. Thanks again for the info and being truthful.
Since the graduates are jumping on the board I am very intrested in what they think about this comment about the document that was found.
“We found one document, in Turkish, that talks about the purpose of these charter schools,” says the parent. “They refer to them very explicitly as schools (belonging) to their movement. They’re calculating, and they say if they can have something like 600 schools, then every year, they can produce 120,000 sympathizers for Turkey.”
then go back and review the links posted by the other commentators. Do the parents and the community have valid concerns? Could there be a motive? What would it be?
[ If there is anything I value is always question authority and to think for yourselves ]
Very saddening news for academic integrity, but not surprising that it is coming from Turkey and its Turkish associates. Several years ago, Turkey tried a similar cunning tactic to infiltrate UCLA’s history department by funding of 1.5 million dollars for a Turkish studies chair with a contract that had strings attached to make sure a Turkish version of history would be taught. Fortunately for UCLA, the history department by a narrow margin of one vote, defeated the proposal and rejected Turkey’s money. The ultimate goal of Turkey appears to be brainwashing American students, much like what they’ve done in their country, in order to escape accountability for the Armenian genocide.
It astounds me that you, Tim Vanderpool, would actually write such an irresponsible article. Do you know the agenda of these undisclosed parents (or parent) that you talked to? Maybe if you dig deeper into these parent’s true bias and their agenda you would be surprised, and find that you are helping them promote hatred and unfounded suspicion
Mr. Vanderpool, your article was filled with speculation. Where are your facts? You state that a Gulen educational agenda exists in both Turkey and the United States, but you have no facts that they are promoted by Sonoran Science Academy…just a few parents that seem naturally suspicious and small minded. What lesson was taught, what homework assigned, what conversation spoken that you could use as a fact. You wrote an article based on a bitter parent who was looking to hurt this school. And you used your position as a writer to mislead your readers about this school. You give me an actual fact that SSA is promoting this agenda to the students and I will then consider you a professional.
I am a parent of two student at Sonoran Science Academy for many years and never have heard of these fears or suspicions that these parents have of a Gulen agenda. And there is no atmosphere of fear that one can not speak their mind openly their. In contrast, myself and the parents that I have spoken to express an appreciation for Sonoran Science Academy’s ability to integrate many diverse cultures without promoting any agenda except that of the role of a solid education. And they do this with a diverse teaching staff. My daughter has teachers from many different backgrounds and religions. Her science and math teachers are from Turkey and they have excelled her knowledge of science and math immensely, no other agenda.
Why would you print those parent’s opinions and prejudices without doing your research? And you are irresponsible to state in a misleading manner that “those who make such claims are flirting with trouble”. Are you a professional journalist or a professional fear monger? You know what Mr. Karatas meant when he said “I’m hoping that they know that these are defamatory allegations which may put them in trouble later on. These are excelling schools. … I hope they are aware of what they’re doing.” They are trying to hurt one of the few schools that is doing a good job teaching our kids.
You, Mr. Vanderpool wrote an irresponsible article about people who would see a good school that was taught by good people become the center of suspicion and prejudice. Instead you and these few parents need to analyze your own prejudices and ignorance. You and those parents should consider yourselves slanderers.
I was checking out the links by GulenAnswers, Jm, Ex SSA Parent. Is would appear the proof is overwhelming. This link here inparticular raises some great questions also.
http://www.shofarbetzion.com/01/1/2/3/4/FG…
If these places are not connected at all then why do the Turkish teachers move freely from one place to another? Why do they never hire outside help on a local level? Who pays for the move and travel expences?
Why are all the Board members of this school Turkish men? Are there other charter schools in the U.S. that are run exclusively by foreigners from a single foreign country? Are U.S. taxpayers aware that they are funding schools run exclusively by Turkish nationals?
This was found and posted on another websight. Very intresting study indeed. So far the evidence is not looking good.
………………………………………………………..
I do not know the Gulen Poster but I did have children at Sonoran Science Academy and I have done quite a bit of research on the Gulen Movement. What the Gulen poster says appears true. I read comments the Gulen Poster made last summer (thank you Gulen poster) and started doing research.
Many parents are upset about this connection and how the school has not disclosed any of their ties to this organization. Gulen’s website infers these schools operate under his direction. There appears an overwhelming amount of evidence they are connected. People I know that have been with the school for years say the teachers and administrators travel between schools freely.
The current principal of SSA is from one of the schools in California. The principal of the Broadway school went to work at another school in the network this year. When the principal of the Salt Lake City School, Beehive was transfered a teacher who parents tell me used to work at SSA and then went to a school in california went to work for “free” in Utah. He’s presently there as the principal not taking any pay. Who works for no pay? I don’t know anyone who is a principal who would leave a paying job and go to work for free. There are special interests at work here.
Don’t let “them” tell you they aren’t connected. They are. Many parents have stayed quite while doing their research. Some teachers have known about this connection and are scared to say anything. People all over the country are researching the connections between these schools and the non-profits associated with them.
If there was nothing going on why would the principal of SSA end the article in the Tucson Weekly with at threat? Doesn’t make sense. The administrators and board members are exclusively men, Turkish men. I believe these schools are forwarding an agenda.I don’t agree with everything the Gulen poster says….but he is responsible for getting the word out. Prior to this summer none of us had heard the word Gulen.
My kids are in a regular public school and doing exceptionally well. They did well at SSA too but I don’t want to participate in anything like this in any way. Thank you Gulen Poster.
One thing is for sure…Turkey’s version of history is definitely different from the USA’s.
Whirling dervish, anyone?
This is quite funny, Gulen is a Turkish ‘nationalist’? The guy is nothing but a Turkish nationalist. An arrest order was issued for him in Turkey 8 years ago because of his Islamist activities and efforts to create an underground organisation to fight against secularism. Guess what happened then? He fleed to the US and was given protection by the US since then. He is closely related to Turkey’s current so-called ‘moderate Islamic’ AKP government. Oh, what is moderate Islam? You need to consult with the US to understand it as it was formulated and passionately supported by the US administrations. So, Gulen, US and AKP are intertwined, and Gulen is living comfortably in the US for the past 8 years and carrying on his Islamist activities under the protection and generous support by the US.
As for the Armenian genocide claims, historians including Bernard Lewis, Guenter Lewy, Avigdor Levy, Standford Shaw, Norman Stone, Gilles Weinstein wrote several academic works on that, and those works reveal that it was not a genocide. Armenians launched a bloody war against the Ottoman civilians and lost it, then went for genocide claims decades after in a bit to continue their fight for Greater Armenia. Armenians formed ASALA terrorist organisation, attacked and killed Turkish diplomats and civilians all over the world including in the US during 1970s and 1980s as part of their political attempts. Though, by the 1990s Armenians discovered that it was easier to buy politicians than continuing ASALA terror campaign. Historians prove that it was not a genocide, however some politicians and hired lobby groups agree with Armenian claims as their financial source is the Armenian lobby groups.
Gulen movement is NOT a Turkish nationalist movement. Claiming that Gulen is Turkish nationalist is a joke. He and his followers are pro-ummah(Islamic nation), so they are against Turkish nationalism and Turkish secularism. Fethullah Gulen promotes Islamic union as opposed to Turkish secularism. Gulen movement is an Islamic movement with certain political aims and connections in the US and all over the world. Turkish nationalists are strongly against Gulen movement.
Yes, Fethullah Gulen is a Turkish citizen. However, he was questioned in Turkey over his Islamist activities and Turkey issued an arrest for him 8 years ago. He then fleed to the US. Why to the US? Why does he still live in the US despite his arrest issue in Turkey was dropped? Why does the US support him? These are the questions need to be asked. He lives in the US and continues his Islamic activities with the strong support of the US. Gulen movement is strongly disliked by Turkish nationalists/seculars.
Not a Genocide??? What exactly happened to the 1.5 million Armenians (including elders, women and children) then? Did they just starve and kill themselves for the fun of it? It was a “final solution” by the Young Turk regime. What happened to the millions of other Christians in Asia Minor (Turkey)? Many Greek Priests, Bishops and Patriarchs were murdered at the hands of Turks…at first in the name of Islam and then in the name of “secularism”. Turkey is the longest running dictatorship in the history modern man, 95 years. Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey whose image is emblazoned EVERYWHERE you go in Turkey, like Mao was in China or Saddam in Iraq, and embedded into the minds of all Turkish citizens and the “Father of all Turks” was an alcoholic and a pedophile who created the modern Turkish state by proclaiming secularism above the theocratic Islamic norm. Yet at the same time Ataturk systematically ignored international treaties (as today’s Turks still do; see “Cyprus conflict”, “Lausanne Treaty”) and ethnically and religiously cleansed the present day, modern 99% Muslim Turkish state of the millions of indigenous Anatolian peoples who have lived there for millenia before the Mongol Turks ever left the steppes of Central Asia to pillage, rape and conquer their way into the hearts (sarcasm) of the Christian Europeans. There is no such thing as a “democratic” Islamic nation. Islamic nations are either Kingdoms (as Saudi Arabia) or Theocracies (as Iran) or at war against non-Muslims (see nearly every other Islamic nation). Muslims have found an ingenious way of undermining the democratic ideals in tolerant Europe. That is by going to a predominately Christian nation, especially the European nations who typically have low birthrates below 2%…and they emigrate and multiply with 6+ kids per family to change the demographics and to ultimately Islamicize the continent. Going back to Turkey, there is an internal struggle currently between the secularists (who supposedly have constitutional backing) and the Islamists (who run the country and proclaim 99% of the population). Since they lost WWI and after the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire, the modern Turkish state was supposed to be a “bridge” between the East and the West, but in fact it is nothing of the sort. In the latest news broadcast on 60 Minutes there is a compelling story of the plight of the Christian Orthodox Patriarch and the intolerant, attitude towards all Christians in Turkey (see: 1955 Istanbul Pogroms). Turks want us to accept them while in their own country they murder and persecute Christians. It is simply a paranoid, denialist culture who for centuries have taken the lands and cities of the Armenians and Greeks and other indigenous peoples and claim all their legacies as their own (Turkish). Turks are still bullying all their neighbors in the Balkans and Mediterranean region by building up a HUGE military (with the US selling billions in arms to them) while their Turkish people flee the 3rd world conditions to overflow and overburden the EU nations and their social/welfare systems with their masses and poverty. All this while the Turkish state claims to be a “superpower” and “regional power” and brags about her military superiority. I would not contribute a single dime to anything Turk related. Please, let us not forget history lest we are doomed to repeat it.
I have a student at SSA and keeping this short, This is hog wash! This school is the best, yes teachers can be strict and believe me I have been in contact with them alot, and the result? They are a great at resolving issues, polite and they are not all Turkish!! Hello out there not all turkish!
I believe this is sour grapes, from a failing parent failing to be a parent and blames the school for her kids bad grades.
The principal is a great guy, the office staff very helpful and INFORMATIVE and this school is very pro American patriotic. I know I actually have a student there and I am not an absentee parent.
Go SSA!
wow, this is ridiculous. i’ve been a student at SSA for a long time and i have never even heard of this gulen guy until i read this article. in fact, i hardly know anything about turkey even after being there for such a long time. i never felt like any peculiar ideals were placed upon me. i have not even heard of a teacher even alluding to the genocide. if there was really a “hidden agenda,” then i’m pretty sure i’d be exposed to some of their ideas after being here for 4 and 1/2 years.
It simply isn’t accurate that these students are not exposed to Gulen:
(Names are XXX’ed out to protect the child’s name)
POETRY CONTEST PRELIMINARY FINALS
The students from Tucson, Oakland, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Reno competed for the Preliminary Finals of the Poetry Contest. XXX XXX was the first to recite the poem “Bu Bayramda Gelemedim Anne”. XXX XXX and XXX XXX sang “Daussila” followed by XXX XXX called “Hep Kahir”. He competed from Paragon Science Academy. XXX XXX with his westside of Turkey (Aegean) traditional custome recited the popular poem “Hic” written by Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish Intellectual and Author. XXX thanked the spectators for applauding enthusiastically.
http://www.pacificainstitute.org/index.php…
“The Pacifica Institute is a foundation based upon the teachings of Fethullah Gülen.”
http://www.alf-mvc.org/?link_id=107
“Pacifica Institute which works in Southern California in support of the Gülen movement.”
http://www.faithhousemanhattan.org/faith_h…
Question regarding Poetry contest preliminary finals…… were the xxx-xxx student or students you refered to from Sonoran Science Academy and were they reciting Gulen? Please so not link the schools. In my and my children’s experience with SSA and the poetry contest Gulen is not being taught or made an agenda. The fundamental question the article incites is…is SSA promoting a Gulen agenda to the students?….no.
I currently attend SSA (and have been for several years) and have never heard any of my Turkish teachers even mention anything about the Armenian genocide. Islam, religion, and politics in general are rarely talked about. In fact, most of them seem to try to avoid those topics.
In all honesty, I have never felt like they were trying to impose their ideas and opinions on me in any way. How would they be brainwashing us if they don’t even discuss these things with us? It doesn’t make any sense. Also, I’ve been to (and have competed in) a few of the olympiads held at Pacifica Institute. SSA competes in them because a lot of students are in Turkish classes, not because they’re plotting to brainwash us all. It’s a learning experience; a chance to practice the language and maybe even win something.
And of course SSA and Pacifica are connected, but not in a weird creepy evil plot-ish way. A lot of the people who work at Pacifica are friends with teachers at SSA(either from back in Turkey or just meeting during the olympiads). So in the end, the parents are obviously overreacting and being oversuspicious and crazy and there’s no real proof provided in this article.
*******Now go back to the article and read this. See how this is working?*****
“We found one document, in Turkish, that talks about the purpose of these charter schools,” says the parent. “They refer to them very explicitly as schools (belonging) to their movement. They’re calculating, and they say if they can have something like 600 schools, then every year, they can produce 120,000 sympathizers for Turkey.
This is plain and simple Bull, i’m sorry. I attend Sonoran Science Academy AT the Sunset Campus. There is no conspiracy or anything going on. No Substitutes because there are teachers awaiting visas. We have 7 Turkish teachers, 2 Hispanic, and the rest white! There are only 18 teachers at the school anyways! This an extremely biased and fictitious article. I had never ever HEARD the name Gulen before this article. I’m sorry, but you have all been deceived by Tucson Weekly.
I want you to read this very carefully!!! Read what was posted by student23 then read what is posted on the Gulen website……………….Do you get it????? 2+2 will always equel 4.
Posted by student 23
wow, this is ridiculous. i’ve been a student at SSA for a long time and i have never even heard of this gulen guy until i read this article. in fact, i hardly know anything about turkey even after being there for such a long time. i never felt like any peculiar ideals were placed upon me. i have not even heard of a teacher even alluding to the genocide. if there was really a “hidden agenda,” then i’m pretty sure i’d be exposed to some of their ideas after being here for 4 and 1/2 years.
Posted by student23 on January 5, 2010 at 7:14 PM | Report this comment
This is from the Gulen website.
“In terms of formal organization, all facilities set up by Gülen’s followers are independent units and promote themselves as such. Yet they are joined in an “educational network of virtue”, as all the leading figures were socialized within the cemaat, participate in the cemaat’s life and are connected to each other through the close interpersonal links of the cemaat.”
“In the field of education, this part of the identity is however not stressed and teachers from outside the cemaat work at these schools as well. They may be non-Muslims and in many cases the pupils have never heard of Fethullah Gülen. In this sense, the schools may not be considered as Gülen-cemaat schools. But this assumption would deny the fact that without Gülen and the people of the cemaat, who view their work as a religious service, these schools would not exist.”
-Discursive and Organizational Strategies of the Gülen Movement, Bekim Agai, 12 November 2005
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-p…
Thacker…your daughter, check her facebook friends…most are at Sonoran Science Academy and some live in Turkey…. Please, for your daughter’s sake, move forward and think about HER future and stop dwelling on the past. It’s not healthy. Let her live a normal life with love and friends and not this past drama that will get you nowhere.
I know this school. I know its staff. I know its students. I know its curriculum.
This school was deemed Charter School of the Year by the Arizona Charter School Association for good cause. This school was deemed as such because of the curriculum practices and the teaching methods they uphold there. Many of the teachers there are from Turkey; the school itself is fairly diverse given its size. The reason that I believe the school is excelling though is BECAUSE there are many teachers from elsewhere. They bring with them the education system that is implemented back in their own country, one that has, very obviously, worked well. I am not alone in the opinion that the school is excelling, the majority of the school population’s parents believe such. Many of the teachers follow the Islamic faith and I enjoy this fact. Not because I want them to be away from teachers of other faiths, the school is very diverse in its faith base, but because this will give the children attending the school the opportunity to see what Muslims really are. Propaganda is rampant these days and has undoubtedly reached the ears of the youth of today, let alone everyone else. But for them to be able to go to school with them and see them on a daily setting will help them get away from the lies and the unmerited concoctions of the media outlets today.
This statement, from the article, is one that represents two entirely different subjects: “I sent my kids to this school because I wanted them to meet regular Muslims and to see them as ordinary people,” she says. “But when I find that my kids are to be turned into genocide-deniers, that’s very disturbing to me.” (http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/hidden-…)
That statement describes two totally unrelated subjects. If this school really was teaching children to deny any kind of genocide, and I believe you are referring to the Nazi campaigns, than you would have heard MUCH more about it. NO, do not refute this by saying that they are secretive and other such candid and misplaced remarks. We need to think LOGICALLY, RATIONALLY and REALISTICALLY.
I take offense for the statements that have been made in regards to the school. It is a very well maintained facility, they do their best with what they are given, they try their best to help the kids, and I cannot name a single one of the Turkish teachers who has showed any kind of disrespect to anyone of any other race or religion, such as that has been shown to them on almost a daily basis. There are very skilled staffs at SSA. Among them are Ashlee Votroubek, a very enthusiastic, intelligent woman who dedicates her life to her drama and musical theatre programs and enriches the students with knowledge about proper grammar and writing techniques that they will continue to utilize for the rest of their lives. There is Kadir Bahar who is a very kind, very humble type of man. He is very peaceable and puts a lot of effort into his work, his studies and into ensuring that every one of his students leaves the classroom having learned something that will benefit them for the remainder of their lives. There is also Martin Sade. One of the most intelligent teachers you may ever meet in your life. He dedicates almost the entirety of his time to teaching these students. He makes real bonds with them and many students look up to him and have committed to becoming teachers because of what they have seen in him. He is one of the BEST teachers you will ever meet in your life if not THE best. Rachel ‘Paz’ Rivera is a very capable and understandable Spanish teacher who has taught these students a language that is very useful in our day and age. As the economy goes down, there really is a demand for more bilingualists. This is set off as a chain reaction, any employer would take an employee with the same skill set as another worker but one that can speak Spanish or some other language that is common in the region over the one who can’t. She teaches very well and also teaches these kids about the history of the Native Americans, Hispanics, and so on. She has passion and she legitimately cares for her students. That’s a lot more than can be said for many other teachers in our school districts today. Aslan Aras teaches Turkish at SSA and is such a caring man that it is very difficult for one not to smile upon seeing him without even knowing him. Care and intelligence emanates from within him. He is an extremely kind and understanding man and takes time to know his students in order to better fit their needs. He is a very good teacher and giving students the option that they are not generally allowed elsewhere also helps them gain insight into the country it originated from and its background. And my personal favorite, Bill Bennett. He is the most charismatic, intelligent, kind, funny, and patient men that you may ever walk past in your life. No, I am not his wife haha but I have experience with him first hand and have seen him work miracles, almost literally because of his persistence and determination in assuring that his students really do learn and understand the concepts he teaches so very well. He really does love to teach and he is extremely good at what he does. He spends countless hours helping the students really understand the concepts because he does not just visualize the short term, but he sees the long term as well. And because this school is geared towards preparing students for college, he knows that they will need this knowledge later on and so makes sure that they understand it now in order for them to be able to better understand what they will learn later on. In fact, you don’t even have to be a student to learn from him. There are many things to be taken from this man and God willing one day I will be able to gain half his patience and a fourth of his understanding.
These are not the only exceptional and exceeding teachers at SSA. I may even go as far as to say 95% of the teachers on staff there are excelling. I tell you about these teachers in order to give you some kind of visualization of what kind of people the students at the school run into everyday. These are their role models. As opposed to other schools, SSA is relatively calm and does not have this enormous drug problem nor problems with fights and gang violence. As with every other middle school or high school, the school is not complete clear of ‘drama’ but they are nothing like the allegations have lead people to believe. They are issues that are so miniscule they are not worth mention and are followed up and taken care of once they get to a point where they are noticeable by several people. This school is determined to ensure its students’ college education is one that is made easier and made possible because of the knowledge they obtain once they walk out the doors after their graduation. It turns kids, gives them more perspective, it enables them to make decisions. There are many extremely gifted students at SSA who come to the school with immediate know how and exceptional intelligence and then there are the students who gain such knowledge because they attend this school and are surrounded by students who want to learn. It’s the kind of environment every parent imagines for their child.
“Other parents say, ‘I could almost be OK with this if they were out in the open about it.’ But the (school) has done such a phenomenal job of keeping this a secret.”
I do not know if in fact there are other parents who have children that have attended these schools and do believe such is true, but I can say that this ‘phenomenal job’ you speak of, is not that of work. It is something that happens BECAUSE there is nothing to hide. Have you any doubt that the FBI would have shut down this facility had they had such links? Have you any doubt that the STUDENTS will NOT have noticed the fact that they were being taught to DENY THE HOLOCAUST? To EMBRACE ISLAM? These are not ideals that are aimed for at this school and to make such assumptions are truly blasphemous and as was the case with a Mr. Bill Thacker, I would like to see SSA pursue litigation for these remarks because of the profound effect they will have not only on the name of the school, but also on the students who attend this school. People will look at them and say unmerited things that themselves were based off merit. You are killing the reputation of a very influential and amazing school. And you are throwing out accusations that have no base besides speculation. Looking at the facts, you are pulling things out of bushes as you run along and attempting to string them all together. Unfortunately, when the end nears you will be left standing in the dark with yourself and your accusations to keep you company.
“When ever you question Mr Karata’s authority at least in my opinion. Like he did me the first time I knew there was something very wrong. Only a paranoid and fearful person would have made such a threat with no way to back it up. In any other situation a normal person over a public school or charter would have held those accountable.”
How incredible it is that someone could make such a statement and then for them to actually believe it is even more overwhelming. So sickening is such. This is among the most absurd and totally uncalled for statements I have read in my entire life. And I have read a lot 😉 I would appreciate it very much Mr. Bill Thacker if you were to reread this allegation you put on the hook, then threw out hoping to catch gullible fish with. You may notice how baseless it really sounds… you sound far too much like an upset parent who has lost reason than an upset parent who really thinks and considers what implications their statement contains. Meritless statements such as this one should be kept to one ’s self or taken to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. Because if you have not noticed, you sir, sound like you are ‘a paranoid and fearful person.’
“I have a very interesting question. How can this school afford to expand three schools in two years. One of them on Davis Monthin AFB. This teacher who works for SSA blogged on a Turkish website stating that he has not been paid three months. What about his bills and his family? Why would he hang on and tolorate such treatment? He stated “WE” have not been paid. I bet the American teachers got paid. Someone should look at there books. I think I see some labor violations. If this is the truth……”
As a side note, your spelling is atrocious. If you don’t know what that means, feel free to look it up. But in regards to this ‘interesting question’ you have, you should feel free to go speak to the administration about such. There, by the way, is not the word to be used in the third to last sentence of your statement. Their however, is the correct word. If you had gone to SSA, you probably would have known that. Why would you state though that the American teachers got paid…? I am genuinely curious of why you would include this in the above quoted text? It does not seem pertinent within the context. And I would not doubt that THEIR books have been reviewed. If this really does interest you, you should go ask them yourself. It may be private information but who knows, maybe they will be able to give you some kind of overview of the methods in which they were able to produce such facilities. Only if you really care though.
This may be one of my favorite statements in regards to everything you have posted: “Here is the blog from a teacher. His name is Bilal temel. The posting is in Turkish..It was on thewebsite called odatv.com But here is a brief translation: (He is responding to the story, saying the school is getting donations from Raytheon)” This is among the most factual of all your statements and as such should be praised. He went on the clear the air and attempted to give people a better and factual understanding of what really occurred in regards to the given situation. Sounds like a staff member at SSA to me, nothing to hide, no lies to tell.
“Read this blog from Daivid Safier.
http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/01…
[ Then there’s this statement from Fatih Karatas, the middle school principal, which gives possible validity to their fears.
“I’m hoping that they know that these are defamatory allegations which may put them in trouble later on. These are excelling schools. … I hope they are aware of what they’re doing.”
When a school warns parents not to air concerns, that concerns me. As I’ve written many times, transparency is one of the keys to allowing people to know more about the quality of charter schools. Even if these parents’ concerns are groundless — I don’t know one way or another — the parents should not feel afraid to share them freely. ]”
Ahh, how the distortion of words is so rampant today and how taking words out of their context seems to be made easier with practice. Mr. Fatih Karatas’ words can be taken in two ways and this man, David Safier, obviously took them in the way they were not meant to be taken. These words really were meant to try to tell people that meritless statements will not result in any good and to think twice, not in the way that it may seem, but to think twice as in really ensure that your statements have ground and are those truth, not fictionalized of imagined. They were not meant as a threat because I have met Fatih Karatas and know he is not capable of such blatant disregard and any level of indecency.
As an example of where words can be distorted and manipulated to meet the person’s interest, one can take this statement, made by Bill Thacker, and assume the worst. “When she was about eight she was playing with another kid and the kid’s dad had hit her. Without going into details, I took care of it.” I do not however believe that you killed this man or did anything that was beyond what a loving parent would do to protect their child. It is very evident that you do indeed love your daughter and deserve respect for such. But these baseless accusations and assumptions beg to differ from what would otherwise seem to be a loving father. It feels like you are a father who, as can be inferred from your words, was not at all pleased with what happened in regards to your daughter at this school. I am forced to believe that, through your own words, because your daughter could not exactly keep pace with the other students, maybe she did not feel comfortable in the school and felt like she was ‘out of place.’ Believe it or not, that is actually something that is not contingent with the other students who have attended SSA because there are MANY other students who attend the school now that would, at any other school, be ‘out of place’ but the atmosphere at SSA is such that all the students feel more welcomed there than they may have at any other school they would have attended. I have heard, first hand (which is more than I can say for almost all of your sources), that at least 5 students there who have transferred into the school, felt more welcomed and comfortable from the start that they had ever known they could be. And these are only those who I have heard from, imagine the possibilities.
Unfortunately Mr. Thacker, I feel that this is a very unique case. Unique in the sense that only you and a few others did not enjoy the school and its methods which are very similar to those of other schools, but unorthodox in the amount of time spent on individual students and the level of intelligence exemplified by the majority because of the effort punched in by the staff, who, quite commonly, spend their Saturday’s working and stay for hours after school in order to help the students who take more time than the rest. This is a sign of true care and hospitality on the part of the teachers there.
SSA prepares kids for what’s to come. It does all it can to ensure its students can succeed in college, and beyond that in life.
“Posted by GulenAnswers on December 31, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Re: “Hidden Agenda?”
“Karatas says he’s unaware of any ties between Accord and Gülen.”
Let me help Mr. Karatas out:
Ertan Salik, board member of Accord, has written four articles for Fethullah Gulen’s journal, Fountain Magazine.”
Two comments in regards to this post for you ‘GulenAnswers.’ The first is I am certain that in stating such you did not do so to make it seem that Fatih Karatas was purposely blind to this issue I’d hope? And second would be more to ask a question than to make a comment. Since when does writing an article for a journal have a direct correlation with how a school is run keeping in mind that the board member is on the board of a certain school? This I don’t understand because if you were to be making a connection through such than it would also be plausible for one to say that “because so-and-so writes in this Zionist journal and they are a board member of so-and-so school, they must have a hidden agenda or there must be a direct correlation between them and they are preaching the Zionist movement within this school, look at my evidence!(sarcastically),” which could possibly mean that this individual uses their rank, or their position to influence their own ideologies within the school? If such is your claim in regards to Ertan Salik, than this person’s claim about the Zionist board member would then in fact be merited as well, yes? Doesn’t really grasp at reality when it’s put into perspective.
Posted by Parent on January 4, 2010 at 12:16 PM | Report this comment:
“Does anyone ever remember getting a school news letter where Mr. Karatas announced to the students and staff that if you feel bullied, harrassed or made uncomfortable in anyway to tell somebody? Tell a parent , tell a friend, tell a teacher to tell somebody?
Guess what? They did!!
Then he threatens to make parents, friends and teachers to make them uncomfortable. Kind of a hypocrate you think? “
Before we all go around making obscene statements, let us turn on our spell checkers and ensure that we are thinking like mature, rational adults please. If only I could ‘report this comment’ for being so childish and blatantly so. Where did he ‘threaten’ to make parents, friends and teachers to make them uncomfortable my dear friend? I am not denying your allegation, simply stating that when you make one, USE FACTS. And if you have these facts, please share them because we can all make up stories. It takes someone with half a brain though to tell one with real merit behind it.
Posted by TT on January 4, 2010 at 5:00 PM | Report this comment:
“The principal’s statement that the school is doing nothing wrong because of the fact that state regulations prohibit certain things is silly. His threatening of critics is deplorable and should raise suspicions. Wouldn’t the best response (if there truly is nothing to the story) have been to welcome more scrutiny so the allegations could be proven false?”
Scrutiny is always welcome, read what was written though and you will be able to make out the difference between scrutiny and malicious lies.
For now, this is the last thing I will clear up:
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 5, 2010 at 1:37 AM | Report this comment:
“This is for ex students-
I heard that the office has a very strict policy that when ever a parent drops something off at the office that you may have forgotten, like homework, a lunch or backpack, that under no cirumstances “ever” that you will not be called to the office to retrieve anything at time. Is this the truth? No has ever been called to the office for any of these things?”
I looked into this and these are the facts in regards to your concerns: The students’ teacher is called near the end of the class and told to let the student know to swing by the front office when the period is over and pick up their stuff. This is done to ensure that the classroom is not disrupted by intercom and is a very fair and understandable practice. They are not, as you stated, “under no cirumstances “ever”,” and in fact this is an extremely incorrect statement. I would love to know where you get these facts from because such a source is one I will ensure I stay very far away from. =)
May the world someday be cleaned of lies, ignorance, hate and discontent, but until such a day is upon us, I will do my best, and I hope with the help of others, to ensure that the facts are revealed and understanding is a path we all willingly take. We can no longer turn a blind eye, we must stand for what’s right. Our country and her people depend on it. Live life laughing while prospering whether it is through money, through living, or through love. Peace.
And unfortunately, because I pasted my response to these inflammatory allegations from elsewhere, the paste did not work correctly and makes it seem as if I lack the proper grammar skills. My apologies if it makes it difficult to read.
I posted last night and spent more time this morning reading the comments and am so dismayed by what I read. I have never encountered any of the negative experiences that ex ssa parent claims. I have met with SSA teachers, the vice principal and office staff and I cannot ever see any semblance of truth by negative posters. This is a school that I am proud for my child to attend, my student, when I questioned about this article, said, “This is so totally untrue”
There is hard work and they expect the students to take their studies seriously, I expect this too from my child.
They expect students to behave, reach high and I do too. They also expect students to have fun and they do, Ms Votrubeck the drama teacher is great and the kids had a great time putting on their plays this last Fall. My student has not just one but several ” favorite teachers” and that says alot to me.
That there are many Muslims attending? so what? I appreciate this, I want my student to know for themself about Muslims not just what is blared on the news or paper or like this so called paper. I do not want my student to be a bigot! I want my child to understand that there are good and bad people in any group, black,white Christian,Muslim, Buddhist, whatever.
In closing I just want to add that I heartilly recommend this school if you want to wash the public school mentality from your child and find a school that expects great from your child,and who will help you acheive this, not just pass them on regardless of their poor grades.
In regards to tothetruthwillsyoufree
Your personal attacks are merited. As far as spelling goes yes, sometimes I do misspell words. I even have the ability to admit my faults and my wrongs do you? Ever hear of a paragraph? Reading your post was like starring at channel 3.
Being fearful and paranoid? I am the only one on this board who is not anonymous. Is anyone else? As far as this article goes and the parents that did come forward I was really amazed. I wish that I had a hand in that but I cannot take credit for something I did not do. I thought that I was all alone in this. But I am willing to stand up for and fight for something I do believe in. Does that sound like fear? Even if it did risk looking like an idiot. The research that has been put into this and interviews with other people who are from Turkey had warned me several times to just leave it alone. These people can be dangerous. Did I take that warning? No I did not.
So why would other Turks give a warning like this? They would know better than you or I about the subject after all they lived it didn’t they? Do your research on this and see why he was tossed out of his country. Homeland Security wanted him gone. I think now we can all see why.
When you quoted me as saying “I bet the American teachers got paid.” That’s right , exactly how it sounded. It has always been my pet peeve when worker rights are ignored. Put yourself in Mr. Temel’s shoes for a second. He came to a place far from home. Chances are on a belief that he is doing right. I don’t care the job he does. But if he goes to work, just like the rest of us then he gets a paycheck, just like rest of us. He is still human being just like the rest of us. How did he eat? What about HIS bills? His car insurance and gas? Does he have a wife and kids? No pay for three months!! That’s ridiculous!!
These are just questions that need to be asked. Because the only teachers I know that would ever go to a foreign country on a belief system to educate others and to endure poverty and would tolerate mistreatment from the hand that sign the check have always carried the noble title of “Missionary or Crusader” You would also have to question who made that decision not to pay him and his motives. Chew on that for a moment.
This article and those that came forward are not questioning GPA’s. What is in question here is transparency and the intentions. What is the long term goal and the means it takes to get there.
What I see as amusing is people defending the academics. The school has great teachers, which is why MANY parents, who have known about GULEN HAVE NOT COME forward. Parents realize that once the jeanie is out of the bottle it will have repurcussions on the school. Many parents know about this connection and are VERY concerned. Basically we have been lied to. If The Gulen movement is such a great thing, that all the Turkish teachers belong, then they should come forward and tell us. They have kept this a secret for years. Why? Because it’s against the charter of the state, which the principal admits in the article. Concerned parents (and it’s NOT just a few, it’s MANY) haven’t said anything because of the jobs of the american teachers and the staff. And the Turkish teachers too. They are good people who in some cases can be thought of as victims. The issue is the connection between all these schools, the non profit agencies (like Accord, Pacificia and many others) and the common denominator, which is the Gulen Movement. One on one teachers do admit they follow this movement and there is a connection. We are not the first community to deal with this. It’s coming out in many communities across the country. Read the articles in the Salt Lake Tribune, where it has been highly publicized. Parents are taking notice. This has nothing to do with any of the teachers or academics. Wise up parents and stop being defensive. Do your research and follow the links.
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 6, 2010 at 7:44 AM | Report this comment
“In regards to tothetruthwillsyoufree
Your personal attacks are merited. As far as spelling goes yes, sometimes I do misspell words. I even have the ability to admit my faults and my wrongs do you? Ever hear of a paragraph? Reading your post was like starring at channel 3.”
As I stated previous to this stupid comment you made:
Posted by TheTruthShallSetYouFree on January 6, 2010 at 12:52 AM:
And unfortunately, because I pasted my response to these inflammatory allegations from elsewhere, the paste did not work correctly and makes it seem as if I lack the proper grammar skills. My apologies if it makes it difficult to read.
So as for your remark, I obviously do admit my mistakes.
“So why would other Turks give a warning like this?”
What other turks are you speaking of?
And sorry to burst your bubble, but I have done extensive research in this and Gulen’s idea’s are those of peace contrary to extremely popular belief.
The rest I can address at a later time as I have much work to complete as of this time.
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 6, 2010 at 7:44 AM | Report this comment:
“I thought that I was all alone in this. But I am willing to stand up for and fight for something I do believe in. Does that sound like fear? Even if it did risk looking like an idiot.”
You look like an idiot because of what you are saying. You really have to look hard at the facts before you can judge a situation. Gulen really does have peaceful methods and ideologies. He is a good person with the right intentions. Really look into him and what he says, you’ll understand what I’m talking about after you have.
Thanks for your name calling, I believe the facts have already been presented. The information and links provided form those that participated speak for themselves.
I feel and so do many others feel that we have been lied to, betrayed and sold on an ideal that does not align with our values. I feel they have misrepresented themseves.
The question is what are we as a communtity going to do about this? From the truthshallsetyou free responses and defence of the Gulen Movement we con deduct that she to feels that this school is part of that movement.
you had lso asked which Turks (that I consider a friend) warned us not to go further? That they do use threats intimadation and harm? From posts on a blog.
turkishforum.com
Which is now gone and shut down. Strange huh?
Care for a Scooby Snack?
This was also the link on the Gulen press room which featured SSA. Now that is gone also.
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/press-room/1…
Ridiculous. Nothing furthermore than the fear of the state of Arizona becoming diverse. Sonoran Science Academy is an EXCEPTIONAL school. As stated earlier, I have attended this school and been involved with many different activities. I’ve attended this school with mady students from different cultural backgrounds. I do have to say, that if this was true in any sense, I, myself, would have been approached by a supporter. I believe in many different aspects of the world and am completely unbiased when it comes to different cultural views. To see an renowned paper publish such extraordinary fiction is proposterous. I advise everyone one of these believers to do one thing: Attend the school. It is mind boggling that so many people are still so closed minded. I support this school 100%. I have no doubt that SSA alumus and many other students, including myself, will stand up proudly for this school.
These claims are absurd.
Exssaparent mentions the following quote ad nauseam:
We found one document, in Turkish, that talks about the purpose of these charter schools,” says the parent. “They refer to them very explicitly as schools (belonging) to their movement. They’re calculating, and they say if they can have something like 600 schools, then every year, they can produce 120,000 sympathizers for Turkey.
One would assume you have heard nothing of the school’s events promoting patriotism. Just recently: November 11th veteran’s day celebration. Veteran’s day parade. Voice of Democracy essay contest (and for younger students, the Patriot Pen). Writing/sending supplies to the troops. These alongside a slew of visits to VFW posts. The school tries very hard to instill pride in our nation. As a student who once took our country’s many rights for granted, I am proud to say that SSA has been a deciding factor in my appreciation for the troops.
The claims that SSA does not notify parents about investigations are ludicrous. At one point in time I had an issue involving another student and SSA was quick to address my parent’s concerns and those of the other girl’s. They were very reasonable and eventually the conflict was worked out. It is astounding to me the things that people with too much time on their hands and a bit of malice will come up with.
Also, the idea of an adult speaking in such a manner to a student, e.g. ‘care for a scooby snack’ speaks volumes about said adult’s maturity.
I think the true patriots here are the one’s who had brought this to light. The concerned parents and members of of the community who had kept a watchful eye. With all intentions being well founded and good they they should be commened.
The real patriots here are the parents and the citizens who had brought this to out.
They should be commended for keeping a watchful eye on everything. After reading this article I don’t think the VFW would want them back.
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 6, 2010 at 11:44 AM | Report this comment:
“Thanks for your name calling, I believe the facts have already been presented. The information and links provided form those that participated speak for themselves. “
Name calling? I simply used the same language you used to identify yourself earlier in this comment:
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 6, 2010 at 7:44 AM | Report this comment:
“Even if it did risk looking like an idiot.”
There are so many things that can be said in response but I will leave with this, life is too short. You are a waste of my time and any one else who comes on to dispute the inflammatory and malicious accusations you have made. In regards to the lawsuit SSA will hopefully pursue against you, they are not out for money. They are out to protect their reputation that you have so diligently tried to ruin. They have nothing to hide and I’m sad to inform you that your lack of competence will not help you in your efforts. God help you. I pray that SSA wins the case against you and that maybe some day you will understand that this is not something that has to do with money, or hate, or secrecy. This is something that has to do with perspectives and understanding.
And just a side note, if you ever go as far as to say something along the lines of:
Posted by Ex SSA Parent on January 6, 2010 at 11:44 AM | Report this comment
“From the truthshallsetyou free responses and defence of the Gulen Movement we con deduct that she to feels that this school is part of that movement.”
You can deduct no such thing. I will do MY best to ensure that you are held accountable for your rampant accusations WHICH ARE ALL MERITLESS. Such an accusation as the one above is obscene and uncalled for. Watch yourself, double check your words and think about what you write before you post it. Like a parent to a child, think twice before you do that again. NO, do NOT distort my words to mean a threat. Take them to mean that you are making yourself look dumber. You are bringing yourself down because of the conclusions that you so thoughtlessly strung together. I am done here, do not distort more of what I have said please. Take everything I write at surface value. Peace
The user known as ‘TW Reader’ only highlights his narrowmindedness in the last post. I, alongside several other students, have participated actively in activities meant to honor our veterans and support our troops. The idea that we should be rejected, after consistent years of service to the post, on the mere basis of race was both unnecessary and irrelevant. I was making a point about how the school emphasizes pride in our country, whereas you responded with gratuitous insults. Please, if you must grace us with your profound insights, try to focus on something you can back up rather than spew insults at a bunch of high school students.
First off, i go to this school your speaking of, i am a born american and this is a great school, they have amazing teachers ranging from the history to linguistics to drama music and math (Many of whom are not Turkish). The teachers have never suggested anything of the like and to tell you the truth, the principle is a nice guy, he used to be the vice principle but when the old principle retired to California he stepped in and is doing a great job so far. The new vice principle is either american or British but he is really nice and always listens to the students. I have fellow students that have read this that are in fact Muslim and are in fact offended by this. The hard evidence simply isn’t there and you are speaking from pure bias. The security guard, PE teachers, music, history, drama, English, and Spanish speaking teachers are not even Turkish although you speak of oppressive Turkish staff. The schools are in a range from k-12 and have put me a grade or two ahead of students in other schools. If i changed schools right now i would have to be put a grade higher to make up for the difference. The school is college prep that focuses on math science and technology to focus on the future wellbeing of the student. Overall i have been here 5 years and to tell you the truth, this is all bullshit and i hope you get called on it. All you have for proof is paranoid conspiracy theory’s based on bias information and “Unknown origins” for supposed fear of being ‘targeted’, it feels like its raining bullshit on my computer when i read this and the only umbrella here is the non-retarded people who know this lie for what it is, a lie. You will be called on this, and I will make sure that I am involved see you get fired.
To congregate of students:
The ‘racist’ card you are playing is overused and unreasonable. To say the author is racist because he looks into a school questioning some ties to the Gulen movement , is a biased and hostile statement. Nobody has claimed that the schools are not providing a good education. certainly the author of this article is not saying that . Maybe you should go read that first part of it again. But after reading this post, I am concerned that they are providing a very inadequate education- at least in open minded questioning, research and backing up your facts, and vocabulary. These are really important skills to aquire as you and the rest of the world are trying to succeed. Getting mad and calling things “crap” and attacking a reporter instead of arguing with researched facts isn’t a very educated or intelligent way to go about your prostest. Good job with your school spirit and loyalty though.
To congregate of students:
I have a question about your post. When you refer to the author as “buddy” and say “None of this is meant as a threat-just for warning”, I am curious. what are you warning him of? In your mind what is the difference between a threat and warning?
Congregate of students:
“the old principle[sic] retired to California”
If you are speaking of Ercan Aydogdu, “retired” is not accurate.
Mr. Aydogdu left SSA-Tucson to be the principal of SSA-Broadway. He is now the principal of BayTech charter school in Oakland, CA.
“Let me take a moment to introduce myself, my name is Ercan Aydogdu, I am SSA Broadway’s principal. I was principal of SSA Tucson for the past two years, and have been with SSA for eight years.”
http://www.sonoranacademy.org/broadway/Por…
“I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new Principal of BayTech. My name is Ercan Aydogdu”
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:nNfQtv…
In regards to hoping that they will take me to court. As you can see from my response I hoping for this to. I am more than willing to lay out all my cards on the table. This is a matter of honor and of pride.
We did not ask to be members of that school. We were invited and in fact encouraged to do so. After I seen what they had and did my own investigation and meeting with the teachers I was pleased. In fact so pleased that I was more than willing to help out. To raise funds and to help create win win situations with the school and the community.
Let me invite you into something and do this to your family. I want those to come forth and to hold themselves accountable. As a public figure do you think that Mr. Karatas was acting honorable when he concealed an investigation from me? Do you think it was honorable when I brought to his attention about a student that was contemplating harming (self) and Mr Karatas did not notify the parents or to report it somewhere where it could or might have been intervened? Do you think he really gives a ……………..When it comes to caring about the children? I agree with the other parent. How absurd. So absurd that when pressed the school’s attorney statement was he acted appropriately that the school had no obligation to inform anyone. Maybe Mr. Karatas is just so egocentric that he did not like the source it came from? just a thought. I still worry about that kid.
Do you think a book called Hairstyles of the Damned with sexual content is appropriate for a 12 yr old? I am still going to hold my ground that this teacher found an opportunity in chaos and this teacher should be watched CAREFULLY. Again with all this evidence disappearing from public view we have to ask why is this teacher’s face off the school website? Do we have right to confront our accusers?
There is a lot more things that I am holding back. I will not sway from this. For all intent and purpose here, it is more than obvious that this school and the board only cares about its public image. The things we only see on the outside. This article is about what is going on behind the curtains.
I am also advocating for those who stated and blogged have not been paid. That is wrong. Dead wrong. Would you or anyone else take advantage of somebody who may not know their rights? To exploit others for personal or finacial gain is unacceptable.
Threaten me with a lawsuit? I accept it. Re accept it and accepted again. “I am calling down the thunder.” Gulen has over two- million followers globally with a combined net worth of over 52 billion dollars. I was just a regular guy who lost both his jobs due to a knee injury. I was cheated out of $7000.00 and lost any hope of keeping my home. I sold blood to buy food for my child and yet my concerns were and still are the children.
Mr Karats and the board wants to believe that making threats and not holding anyone accountable is the proper role of doing business because they pay for a lawyer that holds them above the common cititizen? Guess again. There is a Native American saying, “Don’t wound what you can’t kill.”
If a school believes that they can afford to lose one student then it means that can afford to lose one hundred. We don’t shoot our wounded or toss our children under the bus because its convienant to do so.
I am sorry for the kids. But this school has lied, to the parents and lied to the community at the large. Just my thoughts. The worst lie is often not the ones you tell but the one you hold back by omition.
I am calling down the thunder.
What did Dorothy find when she pulled back the curtain? The only thing left I can say thus far about SSA and this Gulen Movement:
A liar’s house is on fire and no one believes him. Turkish Proverb~
I did not post this :/, i would appreciate some sort of direction to the delete button please. Ive nothing to do with this and would like to keep it that way :/..
or maybe a way to delete the account, anything would help just direct me to any delete button, or if someone can like a web mod or something possibly delete this account. Sorry for the confusion, hereby don’t even read anything this account said, its a waste of time anyways
I currently attend SSA and I believe this claims are ridiculous and are biased. Most of the math, science, and Turkish language teachers are Turkish, but, considering that SSA has won many math, science, and Turkish competitions in the past several years, these teachers are partially responsible and have done a marvelous job teaching.
In addition, this article does not interview any teachers, parents, or students, so it has no evidence to support its claim. My advice is: don’t rely on this article since its claims are far too outrageous and have no evidence.
Although my son graduated from Sonoran Science Academy last May, I will always think of myself as a “Sonoran Parent”. My son went to SSA from 6th grade through his graduation last year. This school was and is one of the best things that every happened to him. The teachers and administrators truly care about the education and development of the students. These education professionals, regardless of the country they came from, really care about these kids. These are people that take time to understand each student, and work with them to succeced. How many teachers do you know that will meet with students on Saturday for tutoring? How many high schools in Tucson, or any place for that matter can you list that the teachers have tutoring hours every week for students to get extra help?
The diversity of cultures at SSA is one of the things that make this school so superior. In the time my son was a student at SSA, he was fortunate to have teachers from Turkey, China and the United States. He also had teachers that had lived outside of the U.S. in Germany, Costa Rica, and Spain. The opportunities to learn about different cultures and beliefs were remarkable. In fact he has traveled to Germany, Turkey and Costa Rica on school trips.
I can’t help but wonder a few things about this article. First of all, the “parents” that seem to think that something evil is going on at SSA have offered no proof of that. I can’t help but think that these are parents that are not confident in there own beliefs, and havn’t taught their children to make good decisions. I also can’t help but wonder what the reporter was thinking by insinuating that something heinous is going on at SSA. I think that this is a case of irresponsible journalism, and it’s akin to a hate crime to publish such rubbish.
I can only assume that those that believe any of the garbage from this article are close minded judgmental frightened little people. I will tell anyone how wonderful this school is, and how the teachers and administrators have changed my son’s life and helped him achieve his full potential.
Parents do your self a favor:
Put [Gulen Movement US charter schools] in your search engine and see everything that comes up. Pages and pages of links. There is a lot of evidence out there. Read it.
Let me share this with you so you know what I am talking about. From a Turkish reporter:
Dear Mr. Thacker,
I can wait for your paper; I am doing a follow up story on what Kristen wrote in the Salt Lake Tribune.
What I am wondering is, are the law enforcement agencies keeping an eye on the Movement. There is a general view in Turkey that CIA and the US institutions are actually using the Movement against secular establishment in Turkey, i.e. the Military, judiciary, media etc. They have infiltrated into the police force and they are intimidating everyone by wiretapping and political pressure.
Do you have a feeling/information that the US’ institutions are putting a distance between these schools, Gulen people?
Normal businessmen and teachers cannot even get a tourist visa to get to the US
Gulen’s teachers are given indefinite visas without even being interviewed.
This was a very well known practice during Bush years.. Now there seems to be question marks in Washington DC.
And can I interview you for a blog I am writing on this?
Thank you very much,
( I omitted the reporters name )
I think it is the duty of the community to patition the Department of Education and to have the charter revoked. Daisy Education dba Sonoran Science Academy needs to leave the state of Arizona.
Well, first let me point out my background. I am an Irish-American Christian Physician whose two children have attended this academy for over 5 years. I am a military veteran of 14 years service. so much for any of the xenophobes out there who wish to question my credentials as an “American” To be succinct, this article in the weekly, took the opinion of one ethnocentric yahoo, and defamed a school doing a fantastic job for children in Tucson of all backgrounds. Shame on the weekly. A paper which prides itself on fair mindedness, displaying this type of animosity without any proof aside from the dangerous poison of innuendo, should immediately recant this article, and apologize to the school. As far as Mr. Karatas is concerned, my wife and I have had numerous interactions with him as primary administrator, and have found him to be an affable, honorable and dedicated educator. And he happens to be of Turkish decent.
In addition, name me a history curriculum in this city which teaches the smallest bit about the Armenian Genocide. For that matter, how about Cambodia, Darfur, Kosovo, Soviet Russian and Maoist China. Most of the schools in this city, have a difficult enough task teaching about the Nazi Holocaust. We have found our children’s history courses, incidentally taught by Anglo American teachers to be extremely balanced and informative.
I strongly suspect that the motivation for maligning such an outstanding school is jealously on the part of schools not as successful, or on the part of a poorly informed and hostile parent.
Bravo Joesmom!!! Bravo
LOL!!! If I didn’t know how ridiculous this article was, I would be more upset. I’m a proud parent of two SSA students. Our children have had the privilage of attending SSA for several years. I know the Administration, teachers, students, and parents of students & NEVER has anyone made mention of the concerns listed above. What this article does sound like to me is envy. Envy for the test scores, grant money, national press etc. It’s sad that the hard work of students & faculty gets boiled down to this bizarre tripe. Walk through the halls and what you’ll see is determination, guidance, self-respect & an academic environment that needs to be replicated. We have trusted SSA to be an influential partner is our children’s development since grade school, & will continue to, thru high school. Thanks SSA,
Mrs. Robinson
As a current SSA Parent, and a person whose job took me to employment on DMAFB, let me say that the fact SSA has a school on base speaks volumes. I know first hand the back ground checks the Base does on anyone even entering the Base let alone setting up a school for the service men’s children. I am confident that had any of the allegations made by “exssa parent” had any shred of truth, this school would not be operating on Base!
I do remember an irate parent last year who was full of hate because his student was acting up and he blamed the school and the students friends, he made a horrible scene at the school. Could this possibly be exssa parent?
I find it sad that when students act up or make failing grades that in any school, the parents always blame the school. Some schools may warrant this charge but the fault mostly falls with the parents.
SSA is such a fine school and I find it ridiculous that these negative posters attack with out any sound proof. As for the principal threatening the parent, I find this ludicrous, he is a fine and kind man who sincerely cares for the student body as well as all the teachers do. I guess if someone was slandering me I also would warn that person that they better watch out, not a threat, just a warning that they might end up in court for slander. Does this constitute a threat ? when I am only trying to defend myself? Thats whats so great about this country, I can defend myself in a court of law. Now a threat would be “bodily harm” Which I am sure never happened.
If this ever comes to be a big issue you can bet SSA parents like myself will stand by in support of SSA. Way too many GOOD things come out of SSA to let disgruntled parents ruin it for the rest of us.
You asked:
I do remember an irate parent last year who was full of hate because his student was acting up and he blamed the school and the students friends, he made a horrible scene at the school. Could this possibly be exssa parent?
The answer to that is no. But I am sure that scene would have been something to watch.
The article is not about weather the kids are getting a good education or not. Everyone seems to be stuck in that. This is about a principal who threatens people when he chooses not to hold himself or staff members accountable. This is about transparency. We are questioning the schools intentions. Please read those links. Are those non- profits and other charter schools connected? Maybe not on paper but by the ones who operate them. no more going off into the weeds. It isnt about test scores and grades.
If they say they have no interest in Gulen, Then it is more than obvious that Gulen has an interest in them.
Again THANK YOU!!!!! to the parents who brought this forth. We should not have to be afriad to express our concerns. We should not have to be afraid of anything.
If this is not about education,and you are an ex ssa parent then what do you care? You are no longer involved with this school so what is your real motive?
Many people have already stated that there is no connection with Gulen, and you state “If they say they have no interest in Gulen, Then it is more than obvious that Gulen has an interest in them.” So what is it to you? You have no student in this school. Why don’t you just let the school take care of it’s own business. If there are parents out there with current students then why are they keeping annonymous? At least have the guts to say your name and if your not happy take your student and leave.
Why this big campaign smear? I wonder how many posters here really have students enrolled at SSA? I will bet just a couple including myself.
One more thing this so called” Sharia tactic of discipline” What in the Sam Hill is that? I never heard of such a thing, thats when I know this is all made up and people I sure would not take this whole article too seriously.
I don’t care either way frankly. Whether they’re involved or not, they are a staff who can be trusted and who we know our children are safe with. Look into what Gulen really teaches and then tell me that you WOULD have a problem if they DID follow his teachings. Don’t take my words and twist them in order to make them seem to be a verification of your accusations. What I am saying is really look into who he is and if you still have an issue with anything than you are in need of serious help. He preaches peace and tolerance. I have researched him EXTENSIVELY and his teachings. Come back to me if you still find issue with anything he says.
And as was said before, do not distort my words. They are all meant at surface value. I have not 2 faces nor double meanings in anything that I state.
In response to “the truth shall set you free”, I have researched Gulen, both his English language things and also what he has said in Turkish (you can have it translated). I have found him to be very tolerant, in English, but much less so in Turkish. He tells us what we in the West want to hear, but when he doesn’t think we are listening he’s quite different. And as far as saying that we should be very comfortable with his people teaching and taking care of our kids, I thought that according to Karatas there is absolutely no connection to Gulen? Gulen is two faced, one for the West the other for his followers, and you and your organization are full of half truths and lies, unfortunately we have an overabundance of people who are ignorant to these facts. I would encourage everyone to look into this organization, not just with those who promote him, but have the courage to look into the detractors also, remember the Truth WILL Set You Free if you let it!
Some people are saying the school has no ties to Gulen, and there is no proof. Others are saying that Gulen is good, and there is no proof he is bad, or dangerous. How do you know there is no proof? And “Truth shall make you free”… I HAVE researched Gulen, from his own reading room, things like “The organizational strategies of Fethullah Gulen” and others. It was an 11 page document. Everyone should read this.
As far as the school on the air force base, that isn’t proof positive that nothing covert is going on. it’s a nice idea but ….. At least some of the schools I have looked into are having visa violation issues with their teachers. They get H1B visas that are supposed to be employer specific, and then move the teachers around to other schools. One school has the principal listed as a janitor on a website! One teacher’s face book has a picture of her and says “I love Fethullah Gulen!”
Posted by edna on January 9, 2010 at 7:41 PM | Report this comment:
“…and you and your organization are full of half truths and lies…”
I’d hope you’re not referring to me when you say ‘you’ and ‘your’? Because I have no organization and coming to such a conclusion would be irresponsible.
Posted by edna on January 9, 2010 at 7:41 PM | Report this comment:
“I thought that according to Karatas there is absolutely no connection to Gulen?”
I stated several times that I was not confirming that there were ties. If me coming out and saying that does not reinforce your assurances that I am doing such, there is nothing else that I can do that will. I have repeated several times that by my saying that I agree with Gulen’s methods and his teachings, I am NOT also connecting him or his network to SSA. I will not speak in the matter because I have not researched it enough to have the right to state such an assumption. Do you understand? Or maybe you were speaking of someone else who had commented..? I believe you were speaking to me on account of your response saying that it was aimed at responding to me. I’d hope you were not making a connection based on my beliefs or my writings. But of course, if you were going off such, you would have instead said that I wasn’t making such a connection due to my reprisal of such several times.
Maybe Edna thought that you had ties to the gulen movement, and that you were saying the school had ties to the gulen movement because you are so emotional in your effort to express yourself, and caustic and harshly criticizing those that question the gulen movement and it’s ties. I thought the same thing.
At the risk of you attacking me, as you have others (not really Edna, but others)- again, I HAVE researched Gulen, from his own web site, Janes analysis, and other sites. and I don’t like what I read. I am…concerned.
I am shocked at the ignorance being shown by so many in regards to the Armenian genocide. I am a proud Armenian who finds no problem with the school, so long as they do not alter the historical facts. I encourage the school’s academia and I too am glad that a successful school model has been brought to the area. Please make your comments, but do not disgrace the past and the hardships enured during the historically intact Armenian genocide. Thank you.
I’m going to keep this short, sweet and to the point because, unlike the user TheTruthShallSetYouFree, I do not have the time or the patients to waste on people’s ignorance.
First off, I would like to point out that I am and have been going to SSA for five years. I know people that have been there since the school first opened. It’s amazing to think that the public is so easily fooled by a bunch of prejudice people.
And that’s exactly who I think these parents are: Prejudice people. Just because the majority of the staff in the SSA schools are Turkish, doesn’t mean they’re plotting some fiendish scheme. On the south side of Tucson, the majority of teachers are Mexican. Does that mean the Mexicans are plotting something too? Get real.
Here’s my advice to these parents: If you don’t like the school, leave. Don’t complain about it and cause problems for the school just because you’re insecure about being around certain people. Find a better way to fix your “problem” and grow up.
Certain ethnicities and races tend to go into certain areas of work when they come from another country. Did you ever think that maybe teachers get paid more here than they do in Turkey? Or perhaps they just wanted to come and teach in the United States? SSA was named Charter School of the Year for 2009, so that makes us one of the best. I think that would make teaching positions at SSA desirable.
The students have never been pressured into participating in anything, including the Turkish Olympiad. The office reads the Olympiad along with everything else in the morning announcements (which include normal, non-sinister things like tutoring hours and club bake sales). There are flyers put up around the school to promote participation, but next to them are flyers for the next dance.
Then there was the comment I read about Mr. Karatas “threatening” people with his ending sentence: “…I hope they are aware of what they’re doing.” If you think this is a threatening statement, please stay away from all butter knives, we wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.
He’s referring to the fact that people are starting up trouble for the school. Do you people even realize how beneficial this school is for so many students? How many of them become successful people because of what this school does for them? If the school were to close, more than 3,000 kids would have to relocate to new schools. 3,000 students who were benefiting from the school they are at. The ones who are not benefiting should, like I mentioned above, leave. This school is not for everyone, I know this because many of the people I know have left because of the rigorous work schedules (and if you’re about to tell me it’s not rigorous, I’d like to see you try to do the amount of work we do).
Whether the school is involved in this kind of activity or not is completely irrelevant to me, and many of the people I know. What does matter to me is what I’m learning in school and the people I am around, neither of which I have ever had any reason to distrust. I would also like to refer back to Nan’s post when supporting this trust. SSA is on an US (United States) Air Force Base. I know for a fact that, if any of the allegations were true, SSA wouldn’t be on the base. We are there because we are a good school who has a lot to offer to our community, period. No hidden agendas or people hiding in the shadows trying to “convert your children.”
I could probably go on more, but I will stop here (since I do not have all day to waste on a response to everyone’s accusations). The very last thing I would like to do before I add my comment is to ask all of you one question: How many of you have actually been to SSA? Not, “I’m a parent of SSA,” but really, truly have been a part of it? Have you gone to the school for five sum years and created bonds with the staff and students? Have you been a part of the Parent Association and experienced everything? Heck, even the P.A. doesn’t understand SSA, no one really does. The only ones who really understand are the students and the teachers, because we are the ones who have to live it. So before you go saying “it’s the worst thing ever,” why don’t you try to have an open mind and see the whole story.
The last thing I would like to address is ExSSAParent. Let me highlight a couple statements you made:
“Care for a Scooby Snack?”
“But I am sure that scene would have been something to watch.”
Really? Really? You’re supposed to be a parent- which entails being a grown up. The comments you have made on this article are impulsive and uncouth. While some people may have used foul language or have said hurtful things to you, you’re not supposed to “internet trash” everyone who disagrees with your views, however incredulous they are. I won’t even tell you to grow up because, chances are, the message wouldn’t even register. I would like to you that you have not been a part of the SSA “experience” so you have no right to be trash talking without the other half of the story.
My support goes out to TheTruthShallSetYouFree. You fight a good argument and it’s a shame no one is open minded enough to try to understand what you are trying to say.
-Sapphirewolf93
I would like to give kudos to “The truth shall make you free”, the Admin. at SSA, and pertinent staff at SSA, both past and present. The Hoecfendi must be proud, you have done just what he has charged you with doing, which is to create a population of sympathizers with the movement. Judging from many of the posts on this article you have done a stellar job! These are the words of Fethullah,
Last Updated on Thursday, 08 February 2007 10:49 Written by Fethullah Gülen Saturday, 31 May 2003 21:00
“Fortunately, we have such heroes among us, and the renewal and change that they will bring about will be shaped by the Qur’an and tempered by human nature. Both its enemies and the masses will be unable to prevent it, for history proves that only a few individual geniuses bring about a renaissance. Such people, who have emerged with a complete spiritual awareness in almost every age, established schools of law and schools of thought, both of which breathed the spirit of reconstruction and reform into the masses. Their successors followed them and their thoughts, as did the masses that sheltered in their enlightened climate. Such great guides became the people’s life-blood and soul, and lived with them like a spirit. In their absence, society and the people declined. “
The Fountain, July-September 2003, Issue 43
and one of his followers,
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 10:28 Written by Bekim Agai Saturday, 12 November 2005 12:00
“In the field of education, this part of the identity is however not stressed and teachers from outside the cemaat work at these schools as well. They may be non-Muslims and in many cases the pupils have never heard of Fethullah Gülen. In this sense, the schools may not be considered as Gülen-cemaat schools. But this assumption would deny the fact that without Gülen and the people of the cemaat, who view their work as a religious service, these schools would not exist. Without the tutors and teachers who learned through the socialization in the cemaat that education is the highest religious service, there would be no school in far remote places like Siberia. But as the schools do not stress their religious background, there are other reasons for registering at these schools: Some parents simply want the best possible education for their children without any regard to religious matters. Others are influenced by the idea of the cemaat and believe that this type of education will help their children to be successful in life and thereafter. What Gülen managed to do was to strengthen the influence of his cemaat through opening it and making it part of a larger educational network. This was only possible because of the Gülen discourse, which explains to the cemaat why it is necessary to leave its boundaries and to justify compromises and which is able to attract people from different backgrounds including them in the shared common interest of education.”
Discoursive and organizational strategies of the Gülen movement
I would also like to make a brief comment to our young friend “Saphire” who brought up the point that if we are not actually attending SSA we should just leave it alone. I am wondering, how many of your tax dollars are being used to fund this school? Plenty of mine are, and whether you like it or not, I do have a say, and I will comment on what is going on at this school, as well as the other schools in this network. I sympathize with you in the fact that if SSA closes you may have to look elsewhere for your education, but believe it or not, there are things that are more important than your own personal comfort. It is sad that you feel that people are just being prejudiced against the school simply based on the country of origin of many of the teachers and staff, but this is a familiar cop-out when one doesn’t want to look into uncomfortable problems. Is is also sad that there is an apparent dearth of critical thinking being taught by our friends at SSA, if it was then maybe you wouldn’t be so quick to come to these conclusions. And remember that there is a lot of wisdom in the saying that the Truth will set you free, but only if you will let it, you must confront it, and not run away just because it isn’t what you want to believe.
Sapphirewolf, I think you are out of PATIENCE. To say that you are out of ‘patients’ would indicate that you are a medical professional without clients.
After reading other posts from the students at this school, and now this one, I don’t think the education there is as great as is being professed. Grammar, spelling errors, poor sentence construction, unwillingness to investigate and prove your point through research and facts but instead resorting to anger and hostility…none of these are characteristics of excellent education. Some math and science olympiad awards doesn’t mean everything.
I think that you are right on when you say that even the parents of students there don’t understand the school, even when they are involved in the parent association. That makes investigating the schools, their connections, contracts, teachers’ credentials all the more reasonable.
Whoever posted right before me is also correct. My tax dollars are supporting this school, therefore I have a right to ask questions and get some answers. You may go to school there, but you are not the paying taxes to keep it in business! All of us working adults that don’t understand the school are doing that.
It is true that that we all should have a concern about these schools. That document alone is enough to raise a lot of concerns. Not with just the parents but the teachers and the community at large. It is federal and state tax dollars that they are accepting. We the people. We are the ones that do make up the government. Its our money. I find it very disturbing that by opening up 600 more schools that they can gain 120,000 more sympathisers for Turkey. Sympathisers for what? There is no war is there? A conflict of some sorts? Do they antisapate one?
What is also concerning to us is the ideal of using children to find the means to an end. What is the overall objective here?
The term also by trying to use a little humor “Care for a Scooby Snack?” the mystery thickens doesn’t it? That link that was broken featured SSA on the Gulen website. If there is no problem then why take down the story? If it isn’t bad then why take it down from the internet? That other link is a forum where I and others have gone to discuss and debate Gulen. There have even been Turkish citizens who have expressed concerns. Others have been sympathisers of Gulen who have made threats. But since this has come to light that link too is broken.
For people who have nothing to hide sure are doing a lot of damage control and covering there tracks. Very suspicious.
So this isn’t about teachers and student grades. This is about the intentions of those who run the schools. I find it very striking that a business can afford to buy land and make deals to open three schools in two years but a teacher is complaining that “we” have not been paid in months. Is this a ploy to get more donation money ? Or if it is true then what do you say about a business that is willing to cut back on one of its most valuable resources? People. And who would be so tolarant on a belief that the business can afford to expand itself and spread but cannot pay its people? Dedication is one thing. Abuse and exploitation is another.
I also wanted to point out that for those who stated that the school had interveined to resolve issues with children I think that is great. However several had been brought to his attention (Mr. Karatas) in which the school lawyer responded to the Arizona State Board of Charter School was that they had no duty to inform parents. As a parent that is very scary.
Also when it comes to SSA’s newsletter for November Mr. Karatas also claims the school has been effected by state and federal cut backs. In my research the charter schools in Arizona have not been touched. This is misleading to the parents (consumers) in my opinion i.e. fraud.
Right now this is a matter of trust, honesty and the true intentions of the school. We feel that the teachers, students, parents and the community have been manipulated and deceived. It would also be concerning because those, the students, who look up to the most (the staff and directors) are they leading by example? Judging from the structure of the business right now. I think not.
If a teacher can be fired for teaching history , the truth, then can another be fired for teaching Darwinism and evolution? If this movement continues how many more truths will be extinguished if given enough time, power and money? (sympathisers or voters)
If anything right now I feel that it would be a good idea for every student to take it upon themselves to become experts on these two studies because someone told you not to do it. Not just WWII genoside, the Armanian, Native American, China and the burning of the temples……. then ask why would anyone deny you of these truths? Why did no one ever tell you about Gulen? If he is so great why hide him? If these businesses and non profits are not connected then who in there right mind would donate a years pay to keep another running? What is the belief behind that and the long term objective? What is the promise on the payback? I am never going to believe that this person is saint or savior for doing so. The only ones who could or do so is operating on a belief system more powerful than his own will.
We’re in another state, not AZ. Our child attends a charter school linked to Gulen on some of the websites mentioned here. We were surprised by the similarites between our school and SSA and others mentioned – chartered by Turkish people, excellent acadmeics, etc. We had never heard of Gulen until reading all these sites on the internet, nor had other parents we know. We have since discovered a link between our school and Gulen. We want to say thank you to those who have posted information for making us aware of these links. This connection should have been in the open.
To Whats on the agenda.
Copy those links open them get screen shots and forward those to as many parents as you can. This also includes state representives as well as those who are running for congress this year. Information is the key.
Like the parents here in Tucson be sure to collect as much data from within the schools while doing so.
Share your findings with us.
What’s the agenda:
It was the same thing with us. We are not at this school either, but the similarities are staggering. Before this article was written, some things didn’t add up. I started doing some research and found out some of this before reading this article. It just confirmed what I already knew. just what to do about it and what can be done is the question.
Care to compare notes? I would like know what your school and ours has in common. I have gone to allthefactsplease.weebly.com, it’s a bulletin board where you can write about your own school and maybe find out about others.
it may be a good idea to add the articles not just from the Salt Lake Tribune but from this one as well. Copy the parent comments and concern to your website as well. You may also want to get set up accept donations. Homestead.com does a wonderful job of hosing websites. Yes I encourage anyone to compare notes. Even after this there is still a lot gaps and a few fires the school has tried to put out and tried to suppress information.
Again this is not about the education. (there are issues that will be handled later) but what is concerning is the motivation and the intentions. So far we cannot deny these facts that these schools and nonprofit organisations are connected and they do reconize each other. A violation of the charter? This remains to be seen. But from what we can descern they may be a religious school (yet) but is religious and political in intention.
The Gulen Movement has no interest in politics either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApSyqk0PyNY
I was scrolling though and reading comments when I came across this one.
Thacker…your daughter, check her facebook friends…most are at Sonoran Science Academy and some live in Turkey…. Please, for your daughter’s sake, move forward and think about HER future and stop dwelling on the past. It’s not healthy. Let her live a normal life with love and friends and not this past drama that will get you nowhere.
Obviously written by an SSA staffer. How low will you people stoop to go online and check up on my daughter? Bad enough three months later in her new school SSA attorney requesting her records and asking how she was doing. Was I to take that as a real school’s concern or a warning? These people are insidious.
When I read articles like this one and Mr Karatas just can’t seem to grasp the concept as to why I would be upset.
http://arizona.typepad.com/blog/2009/11/in…
He wants to make threats against me!? The board members had to pay a lawyer to state that the school had no duty to inform. As a parent does this frighten you? What other things are they willing to pay a lawyer to do? From that video shmoozing Az. law makers makes us question what other rights as parents are we going to give up for the Gulen Movement and charter schools. Research that guy and see what he has done since that video was made. The Gulen Movement is alive and well and doing the same as they did in Turkey.
When we read articles like this one, why on earth would he cover that teacher who used her position to cover her tracks? To go on a party, intentionally with students. As far as I am concerned she fired herself the second she set foot on that campground. Nice pictures.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/3…
Mr Karatas and his staff may seem to think to that it is alright harass, threaten and bully little girls and soccer moms but he will not get away with it from me. He threatened me with a lawsuit instead of holding himself and his staff accountable for anything. I accept the challenge. Good to know I am not the only one he threatened.
There is nothing lower than anyone who uses children for religious and political gain. To use children to hide and conceal things. The deception is over. This seems to be part of the culture for SSA staff and administration. They react with out honor.
So in response for my daughters sake, I am doing this for her. I am doing this for you and for your kids. I am setting an example here. When met with a threat and when you are in the right. Don’t back down.
Even more disturbing, the board of directors knew all of this as well. As far as I am concerned these four men are just as guilty as he. Please, I wish SSA will follow up and follow through the threat. Please take me to court, sue me, put me in jail. I don’t think we suffered enough.
If history serves me correctly the only ones in business of education that used children, persecuted those that opposed them, and weeded out anyone who had the slightest character defects, who carried the mission of doing this for the greater good of the whole were called Nazi’s. 95% of the German population didn’t know. No wonder that teacher in Utah got fired.
I took the challenge and researcged those on the video and found
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/l…
dan9734Mar-15 @ 11:00 AM Report abuse 03.
“If you’re on a school board, you’re an advocate for public education,” Lujan said.
This is no necessarily true. There are some board members that have absolutely destroyed school districts.
****************************************************************
Janna Scott adviser to Janet Nipolitano. Who wanted Gulen out and to leave the country? Homeland.
Nope, I fail to see the connection here. One guy for education (public) the other, the assistant for Homeland Security’s Janet Napolitono. Just a coinecidence.
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THEM! The Gulen Movement has no agenda. Has no intrest in politics and only wants what is best for love, joy and good will to all men and better educations for all.
Give it a rest, people. My children go there and have received a quality education. They are well ahead of the learning curve. Politics, religion, blah blah blah. What about the acceptance and cultural-diversity they cram down kid’s throats at the public school level?
Our child is currently enrolled at Sonoran Science Academy in the high school, and this is without question the best, most amazing school our child has ever attended. I am not the only parent who thinks this. We would not be AT ALL happy with a school that had the slightest hint of ANY religious agenda, and I assure you there is no funny business going on here. I find it disturbing that the passionate, unparalleled dedication of all the SSA teachers is being trashed by this disgruntled parent. I am deeply offended by the fear-mongering paranoia exhibited by the unnamed parent, and also by the whispering innuendos of the article. Most of the teachers there are not Turkish, and all of the differing cultures who are students, staff and teachers there are held together by an atmosphere of mutual respect, warmth, friendliness, politeness, pride and good manners. Our child has several teachers who are Turkish. They are very proud of their culture, and are exceptional human beings with topnotch education. I don’t know of too many other schools where this high of a level of teaching is going on. Without exaggerating, I can say that all of the teachers and staff that I have been in contact with are great role models for my child. There has been no mention of Gulen or any other cleric or political leader by anyone I have been in contact with, nothing smacks of secretiveness, none of the teachers take off on prayer breaks. This is a small school that one can choose to attend or not. They do not brag about themselves and are not into exclusivity. When our child went to the Montessori School in elementary school it was a MUCH more opinionated and impenetrable operation, and no one seems to criticize the followers of Maria Montessori or her very particular ideas about education in order to color them ominous. Again, we chose to send our child there. Why don’t people focus on making their own lives better instead of deviously trying to tear down that which is good and positive for others but not for them? Please move on with more grace and dignity, disgruntled parent! You make me want to cry.
Dr. Jill Carroll:
I first heard of the movement in December 2004 when I travelled to Turkey as a guest of the movement to visit several of the schools and the other NGO initiatives there. It was an eye-opening trip and I was very impressed. Upon my return, I began doing research on the movement to learn more.
I have continued my involvement with them on interfaith initiatives, and have come to see that they are very visible in the U.S. They have interfaith and dialogue initiatives in many cities (a few dozen) all over the country, as well as “charter schools” in various cities
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli…
I think I’ll take the Dr.’s word on that .
I believe that ex ssa parent is sick and the more we respond in defense of SSA to him and other failing parents, we feed his hunger to destroy a good school. Let him and his fellow gang of parents have this column to themselves, let them preach to the choir so to speak. Parents like myself and others here who are proud of SSA need not feed this shark frenzy.
If it ever gains momentum then we will come out again in support of SSA but to keep this guys inane accusations alive is foolish, for he is a foolish man as are his followers.
My child is happy there and I will spend my efforts and energy in supporting SSA and staff and especially my childs love for his school. Don’t feed this guys ego and don’t support this reporters weak article. This will die down when there is no one to fight with. GO SSA!
I think es ssa parent is correct! He had been threatened by Mr Karatas and harrassed by the staff.
The facts are all here. Gulenanswers has given facts. Concerned has given the facts Jm has given the facts.
Again this isn’t about education. But what has been pointed out. Where is the transparancy? This school is tied to Gulen a person the Homeland Security wanted to leave.
In defence to Exssaparent we have read so far how wonderful the school is and how problems have resolved Nan. I think we could now trump up discrimination? If that was my kid I think I would be very upset also.
So far the evidence is overwhelming. Look at the structure of the school. In all of these schools from the vice principal all the way up to the board of directors there are no females. No hispanics , no blacks, just Turkish males. What about women’s right? Your rights Nan? I think that is great that Mr Karatas talks about his tolken minorites and the diverse culture going on there but what we see is sexism and racism. They just rotate Turkish males for those positions.
This is a charter school, a PUBLIC school that accepts public money. But some of you parents have this elitist attitude if you don’t like it leave. Any child, every child has a RIGHT to be there. Ever hear of Martin Luther King and what he stood for? This is about a group that has been known to threaten parents for challenging there ideals and ties to Gulen. Just admit it. But because it does go against the charter they cannot openly admit that these schools are influenced by Gulen and his philosphies. It is religious in the intent. They cannot openly admit that either because it goes against the charter. Are we looking at a system of equal but seperate compared to other public institutions? Do you remember Rosa Parks? So what you are saying Nan and all the other parents, that you willing to trade off equal rights for what you assume that your child is getting a better education? It isnt just SSA but all 200 of these schools across the United States. That is what you and many other parents are blind too. Its there right in front of our very faces. These schools and the stucture that is created is pissing all over our Amendments and the Constitution of the United States.
I really don’t care how good or bad a public or charter school really is. But they are accepting our public money and enough time has passed since these Turkish charter schools have opened. About ten years. To conform to our ideals and laws our values that make this country. The Turks are not better nor less than any other citizen of this country. But look at the structure.
Nan, I am sorry to say but you are blind because all you see is the flash of robot labs, field trips and so called better grades. You fail to see the big picture and for what the Gulen Movement and all these Turkish charter schools really stand for.
Having a school like that with a structure like that with its true intentions being played in the background is an insult to every man woman and child who serve on that Airbase. It is insulting to our community.
Taken from the Gulen’s own websight:
The philosophy of our service is that we open a house somewhere and, with the patience of a spider, we lay our web to wait for people to get caught in the web; and we teach those who do. We don’t lay the web to eat or consume them but to show them the way to their resurrection, to blow life into their dead bodies and souls, to give them a life.[49]
Nan you are like many parents at SSA. You believe in the school and the teachers and that’s not a bad thing. What is a bad thing is how unwilling you are to look at the facts that are right in front of you. I have been at the school for a couple of years and have a very high achieving student. When I learned about Gulen from other parents a couple months ago I couldn’t believe it either. All I was told was the name Gulen and to look it up and look beyond the obvious. I started doing research and I was amazed at how much is out there.
Yes, the school has good academics and dedicated teachers. What about those teachers? There are some really great teachers who want to be in administration but because they are not Turkish they never will. Doesn’t anyone care about that? Haven’t THOSE teachers ever wondered why they can’t be promoted? Don’t you ever wonder why all the school board is TURKISH MEN? The students “white” vice principal came from another “Gulen” school prior to coming to SSA. There are some members of the Gulen movement, by the way, who are not Turkish. Even some teachers who are not Turkish but are part of this movement. SSA thinks we will be coming back next year but they have no idea. People are leaving because the word is getting out. Do your research and you too will find out a lot of things. What I find discusting is the number of parents who keep cheerleading even in the face of mounting evidence. Overcome your ignorance for the good of your children and DO SOME RESEARCH. Parents at “Gulen” schools all across the country are now finding out the facts.
Balci observes that there is no formal initiation and becoming a member of Hizmet is not like joining a sports club or political party. “There is no membership card, and no special ceremony when somebody becomes a fethullahci. Each member offers his or her services-hizmet-to help in the diffusion of the ideas of Nursi and Gülen. He or she accepts the mission given by the community. There are a number of degrees of membership in the community: an individual can be an active member, a simple member or a sympathizer.” (Balci, 2003, 158)
Models for the movement are part of a self-exploration among members who find themselves very deeply committed to a movement whose organizational structural and style of networking are not overtly mapped out on organizational charts or lines of command. Whether this structure is organic, hierarchical, or other is debated in the scholarly literature. (Yavuz 1999, Agai 2003, 246 ff) and in commentary featured in the media outlets of the movement itself such as a series of articles by Ali Bulaç that appeared in the Zaman newspaper.
http://www.fethullahgulen.org/conference-p…
“We found one document, in Turkish, that talks about the purpose of these charter schools,” says the parent. “They refer to them very explicitly as schools (belonging) to their movement. They’re calculating, and they say if they can have something like 600 schools, then every year, they can produce 120,000 sympathizers for Turkey.
I too started researching this article. It does not take much to put the pieces together. It also does not take much to understand that the interfaith dialog commitees are looking at non-muslims to become members also. Touching heads of religeon,politics,major universites, the media, major business and trickling down to our children and families. It is a quiet take over with a lot of money. The vison I see is if you are not one uf us then you don’t work. From the children’s reactions and some of the parents it has been working. History had another figure in power at one point. He promised a lot of things and delivered it. But was the cost? I can’t believe so many are a sleep at the wheel.
gitanobandolero said on Dec 31: “Principal is telling the truth because it’s the reality that the school doesn’t have an organic or official tie with Gulen Movement or Fethullah Gulen.”
no “organic” tie…now where have I heard that before…oh yeah:
Joshua D. Hendrick Ph.D. Thesis University of California Santa Cruz 2009 – quote:
“Examples of such consistent ambiguity are numerous. As mentioned in Chapter 3, Gulen was born both in 1938 and in 1941. As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, Gulen is both the reason behind his schools, and he has nothing whatsoever to do with them. When I asked a hoca at Akademi about the connections that exist between the schools, the companies, the media, and the “dialogue institutes” around the world, he offered verbatim the same answer I heard throughout the network: “there is no organic connection between these institutions.” The ubiquity of this phrase led me to understanding that by stating this, GM loyalists were protecting themselves. On the one hand, total information about the structure and movement of people, resources, and intent is privileged to a very small number of directors and executives at varying institutions. On the other hand, the majority of people in the GM share information horizontally “with the right hand unaware of the left at any particular time.” What these denials communicate is, “Who are you?” Why are you asking these questions? What is your agenda? For whom are you working? Indeed, Fethullah Gulen is feared by many in Turkey’s power structure (Chapter 1). Thus while it is perfectly rational for it do so, I learned that maintaining ambiguity was a strategy consciously employed by the GM to ward off its perceived enemies, and to recreate itself as necessary.”
Nan, are you the leader of the proud sonoran parents, who have not been able to find anything to these allegations? Have you taken the time to research any of the links or information that has been offered in support of these allegations? Why not, are you afraid that you may find that they are true? I realize that it is so much easier to just write this off as some crazy conspiracy, and cast aspersions on anyone daring to suggest that these things are true, but after the dust settles it wont make any difference. The facts are out there, many on Gulen’s own web sites. They are verified by multiple sources, many of which are scholarly. The interesting thing about it is that many of the people who are giving the proof of the charter school connection are actually supporters of Gulen and his agenda.
I am not from Arizona, in fact I live in Utah, and my kids attended the Gulen school (Beehive) and I saw first hand what was going on. Since all of the media coverage, and a legislative audit, the Principal Mehemmet Fethullah Erdogan, (alias Frank Erdogan, alias M. Frank Erdogan) has resigned, and they brought in another oldie but goody, Murat Biyik, who I am sure if you have been at Sonoran Academy for any length of time you will have heard of, to take his place at the helm. An interesting side note to this is that he is not being paid by the school, no, but the good folks at Accord Institute found it in their hearts to pay the bill apparently. Or maybe he just had the funds available personally to work for FREE! hmmm…. it is just amazing how interested these folks are in our failing U.S. public school system.
But the important thing is that your kids are getting a superb education, right?
I thought this was vert very intresting and also deserves some more looking into. I found this on an another blog. Sound like a big racket to me and some unethical behaviors
Anonymous said…
This school is part of a network of about 120 charter schools around the country, all run by the Gulen Movement (GM). How can you tell they are run by the GM? All the key people running these schools – board of directors, principals, etc – are Turkish and can be connected to the GM. Usually they’re also on the board of some Gulen nonprofit (Cosmos Foundation, Pacifica Institute, Institute for Interfaith Dialog,etc etc). Or they write articles for Fountain magazine. Or they came from another Gulen school. All the budgets and books for all these schools and nonprofits are in the hands of a single organization, the GM. They pretend there is no connection between all these schools and nonprofits but there is a ton of evidence that they’re connected.
Why should anyone care about all this money being controlled by a single group? Well, just one example. Look at the Cosmos Foundation which runs the Harmony charter schools in Texas. There are about 25 of them. http://cosmostx.org/ In 2007 they awarded 6.7 million in contract work to the Atlas Group which – surprise – is a Turkish construction company. In 2006 it was 1.3 million to Atlas, 1.1 million to Ege Construction, another Turkish company. Isn’t there a little worry here about conflict of interest? These contracts are made with taxpayer money.
Of course the GM is way too smart to try to openly indoctrinate American students. They only do that in countries where they can get away with it. So why bring up the “Islamist” issue when that’s not the point and nobody ever said it was? The GM is here in the US for money, business connections and political lobbying power. Which they’re getting because the government employees who are supposed to keep an eye on charter schools are asleep at the wheel.
Here’s how the students come into the plan. The semester of Turkish (which they’re forced to take) and all the field trips, tutoring, extracurricular activities and sleepovers with Turkish teachers who try hard to be like friendly buddy big brothers to them, and hopefully the Turkish Language Olympics which they get paid crazy sums of money (like $1000) to attend are supposed to leave them with lifetime warm and fuzzy feelings about Turkey. This will help someday when the US has to vote on some issue dealing with Turkey. Or it helps smooth the way for Turkish business. Lobbying works. Just go to Washington and see what the Rumi Forum (another Gulen job) is up to.
See, even back in Turkey they call these “Gulen’s Schools.”
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=e… ://www.milligorusforum.biz/gulen-cemaatine-sok-inceleme-basladi-t24725.html&ei=zIdYS8rwDo7WNZnQtNgE&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBIQ7gEwAjgK&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgulen%2Bcharter%2Bschool%2Bmagnolia%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D10
http://www.onuncukoygazetesi.net/haber/hab…
“inpeaceandfriendship” says: “His movement is geared entirely towards peace, development and human rights.”
Human rights? Really?
At the closing ceremony of the Gulen Movement’s Fifth Annual Turkish Language Olympics, Saparmurat Niyazov was awarded the “Ataturk Prize” for his “accomplishments” in Turkmenistan.
Look up Saparmurat Niyazov (a.k.a. “Beloved Leader Saparmurat Turkmenbashi the Great”). He was one of the world’s most repressive dictators. He renamed months of the year after members of his own family. He banned opera and ballet, and made all primary students in the country study out of his own book, “Ruhnama”. He manipulated elections, banned foreign media, destroyed the economy and health care of his country, and had opponents tortured and killed.
The Gulen Movement awarded him a prize for these “accomplishments.”
Well it certainly sounds like the Gulen organization makes good character judgments. Thank you “Parent 14” for bringing this to our attention. I recall that “The truth shall set you free” saying that even though he didn’t “know” for sure whether SSA was connected to the Gulen Movement, he did know that if they were we could be perfectly confident in having our children being at the school under their tender care. I don’t think so!
Another curious and broken internet link. I was only able to a partial translation on this.
Gülen Cemaati ve finans kaynakları hakkında haberler veren gazeteci Soner Yalçın’ın … Cemaatin okulu Sonoran Science Academy’e bağış yaptığını belirtti
This is the English Translation
(gulen) caamnti and the publisher who gives messages about about finance sourcer(Soner) Yacin * (in)….A Caamaatin school Sonoran Science Academy e. a donation berlertti which you did
Here is the link from Google. ( Again this link to has been broken )
Search ResultsResults include your SearchWiki notes for Gülen Cemaati ve finans kaynakları hakkında haberler veren gazeteci Soner Yalçın’ın … Cemaatin okulu Sonoran Science Academy’e bağış yaptığını belirtti. Share these notes
Gülen Cemaatinin son hedefi Soner Yalçın – İmbat Forum | film dizi … – 2 visits – 10:26am – [ Translate this page ]
Gülen Cemaati ve finans kaynakları hakkında haberler veren gazeteci Soner Yalçın’ın … Cemaatin okulu Sonoran Science Academy’e bağış yaptığını belirtti. …
http://www.imbatforum.com/gulen-cemaatinin-son-he… – Turkey – Cached –
Note:
I think we can all find it very, very suspisous and more than a coincidence that these things just happen over and over again.
So in regards to the November new letter that went out to parents where Mr. Karatas had stated the school had been effected by cuts. He pleaded for more donations and tax derment donations from parents. Would you say that this an example of unethical behavior and misleaing to the public? Why are the parents not outraged? What is the PA saying about this? Here is the news article that I was referring to. This article and the SSA news letter both released in the month of November. With charter schools there is no accountability anywhere.
“Lawmakers leave charter schools untouched in cuts”
Arizona lawmakers gathered this week long enough to cut $144 million from state K-12 schools. Make that $144 million out of district K-12 schools. State money going to charter schools was left untouched.
“Where’s the equity in all this?” Rep. Rich Crandall, a Mesa Republican, asked his fellow legislators.
The Legislature already has cut money district schools use to maintain buildings and buy textbooks, desks and buses, and put caps on the amount of property taxes district schools can collect, Crandall said.
“There are fantastic charters out there,” Crandall said. “What bothered me is the signal that we send that we’re once again only taking it out on districts.”
Charter schools are public schools owned by private companies or agencies but the schools use state funds to operate. About 10 percent of Arizona students attend charter schools.
While Crandall is worried about how it looks to the public, he said it is really just a matter of time before every school, both charter and district, will feel the pain.
“If you get state dollars, in January, you’re going to be cut,” Crandall said. But schools may be in a better position than most state agencies.
This year, lawmakers agreed to keep K-12 spending at 2006 levels when the state accepted
$1 billion in federal education stimulus money. If the legislature cuts school budgets below that number, the state would be forced to return the cash to the feds.
Crandall said he’s trying to find out how close the state is to that limit. Gov. Jan Brewer’s office reports that the state is very close, while the legislative budget office says the state can safely cut more from schools without reaching it.
Crandall said officials from the two offices plan to meet to determine the correct number.
–Pat Kossan
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 11:41 AM
From the New York Times, Jan. 5, 2003:
“The force promoting political Islam here comes out of Turkey, the country with the closest ties to Turkmenistan. A private group led by a Turkish missionary named Fetullah Gulen has opened 14 ”Turkmen-Turk” magnet schools in the country. The schools boast computers, teachers trained in Turkey and much better facilities than local schools.
I paid a visit to a Turkmen-Turk school in the northeastern city of Dashhowuz. // Although the schools are financed with Turkish money and students are taught mostly by Turkish teachers, classroom walls are covered with aphorisms taken from ”Ruhnama” (albeit in English), and a shrine to the president’s book takes center stage in the school’s lobby. The schools also, very covertly, proselytize their version of militant Islam, which includes advocating the need for Islamic law. ”This is the one radical influence that I know about in Turkmenistan,” says Shirin Akiner, a lecturer in Central Asian studies at the University of London.”
Note- some Sonoran Science Academy teachers or former teachers were at these schools in Turkmenistan before coming here.
These are some very enlightening articles that keep being posted, it is amazing how much information is available out there on Gulen. The newsletter referenced by “exSSA parent” sounds surprisingly similar to what happened at the Salt Lake school. They (the board) went so far as to cut the teachers salaries, due to the cuts that the state had supposedly already imposed on the school. Then they had an emergency meeting to discuss ways that the parents could come up with additional funds for the school. As it turns out the cuts weren’t even slated to happen until the following year, and there was no exact amount given. What is this, if nothing else it should anger the parents that they are being mislead about the finances. I am so glad to see that there are more parents getting involved with this, the only reason these types of groups get away with it is because good people refuse to get involved. They try to intimidate their critics, via threats and lawsuits, but don’t let them get away with it, they’re feeling the heat, and we must keep on fighting.
Here’s a translation of the article
RAYTHEON GRANTS DONATIONS TO “GULEN SCHOOLS”
The investigations into the schools of this community in the United States is continuing to deepen. The discussions on the Internet forums that started following the news article published in Salt Lake Tribune last week, led Odatv.com to new and very special news sources.
The information we received from Arizona is stunning.
According to a parent who withdrew his/her child from the Gulen School in this state, the schools of the community are awash with money while the public schools in the state of Arizona are in financial trouble.
The schools not only benefit from and earn interest on the federal and state funds, they also accept donations from very important companies. One of these is the company that won the latest tender to deliver Stinger missile systems to the Turkish Armed Forces; namely, Raytheon. Maine-based Raytheon recently signed a partnership agreement to co-produce Patriot missiles with Roketsan.
U.S. sources who provided Odatv.com with this information said that Raytheon had made a donation to the Sonoran Science Academy, a school belonging to the community, because of the company’s good relations with Turkey and its air base in Arizona. It would not be a mistake to claim that part of this money originates from the budgets of the Turkish Ministry of Defense and the Turkish Armed Forces.
Let us keep the information about the identity of the person organizing Raytheon’s relations with Turkey for our next news article. But still, we can disclose even now that this Washington-based person has been close to the Gulen community for a very long time. He is a former ambassador to the United States, by the way.
Original Turkish:
RAYTHEON GÜLEN OKULLARI’NA BAĞIŞ YAPIYOR
ABD’deki Cemaat Okulları ile ilgili soruşturmalar derinleşerek devam ediyor. Geçen hafta yayınlanan Salt Lake Tribune haberinin ardından internet forumlarında başlayan tartışmalar Odatv.com’u çok özel yeni haber kaynaklarına götürdü.
Arizona’dan elimize ulaşan bilgiler çok çarpıcı.
Çocuğunu eyaletteki Gülen Okulu’ndan alan bir velinin verdiği bilgiye göre, Arizona eyaletinde devlet okulları büyük bir mali sıkıntı içindeyken Cemaatin okullarına para yağıyor.
Okullar devlet ve eyalet fonlarını kullanmak ve onları faizle işletmekle de kalmıyor. Çok önemli şirketlerden bağışlar da alıyor.
İşte bunlardan biri TSK’nın en son Stinger füze sistemi ihalesini kazanan Raytheon. Maine merkezli Raytheon, yakın zamanda Patriot füze ortak üretimi için de Roketsan ile bir ortaklık anlaşması imzaladı.
Odatv.Com’a bilgi veren Amerika’lı kaynaklar Raytheon’un Türkiye ile olan iyi ilişkileri ve Arizona eyaletinde bulunan Hava Üssü nedeniyle Cemaatin okulu Sonoran Science Academy’e bağış yaptığını belirtti. Bu paraların bir kısmının Türkiye’nin Savunma Bakanlığı ve TSK bütçesinden çıkan meblağlar olduğunu belirtmek herhalde hatalı olmaz.
Raytheon’un Turkiye’deki ilişkilerini kimin takip ettiğini de bir sonraki haberimize bırakalım şimdilik. Ama Washington’daki bu ismin çok uzun süredir Gülen Cemaati’yle çok yakın olduğunu söylememiz gerek. Kendisi eski bir ABD Büyükelçisi.
My daughter has attended Sonoran for several years. The school is wonderful. It was started to improve math and science education. There are many nationalities of teachers but Most are American. Most of the Turkish teachers are in the math and sciences and are brilliant. The benefit of having the Turkish teachers is that they are excellent in math and science, very dedicated and very professional. THERE HAS NEVER AT ANY TIME BEEN ANY COMMUNICATION SUBLIMINAL OR OTHERWISE REGARDING THIS SECONDARY AGENDA. The Turkish teachers my daughter has had a Sonoran are happy to be teaching in a foreign country just as many American teachers teach in foreign countries.
I think you should have better explored the background of the woman you got your information from. I know her, we all do, SHE IS THE ONE WITH THE HIDDEN AGENDA and has a history of psychological problems. You did not do your homework on this one.
SSA like other schools my children have attended, asks parents for tax credit dollars each year. The only difference I have noted is that teachers get much more involved by pledging to do embarressing things for goals reached. For example, shave their hair in to a mohawk if $10,000 reached. The kids love this.
Readers please remember SSA is a challenging school. Many students have not been able to stay at SSA because they can’t handle it academically. Some of what you are reading here has to do with SOUR GRAPES from parents whose students did not make it at SSA!
I understand that the Turkish teachers are thrilled to be teaching in America, that is not the point. As far as doing homework on the subject, have you taken the time to research the information that has been presented on the Gulen organization? These schools never promote their agenda openly, it is only through secrecy and deception that they are able to continue functioning. And as far as the comments in opposition to SSA being only from “sour grapes” parents, that is a cop out if I have ever heard one! You have no idea who it is that is commenting on the site and this article, and to make this assumption is nothing less than ridiculous. It has become a common practice among those who don’t “want” to look at the facts to start calling names and making ignorant assumptions. But if you really want to know then check out the links for yourself.
Shay~
I had never spoken to this woman nor have I shared any information. I am positive that the same can be said from those posting from Utah. After reading this article we can also assume that there was more than one parent speaking to the reporter. Again this article and the one in the Salt Lake Tribune is not about grades. This school is affiliated and is operating on Gulen’s ideals. It is not about teaching Islam or any other religion to students but it is religious in it’s intentions. This is obvious.
Let’s say for the sake of argument. What if everything on those links went directly to Pat Robertson. Instead of a history teacher being fired for accurately teaching about WWII and it was a biology teacher that was fired for wanting to evolution and Darwinism. But the principal fired her because of his belief in creationism.
So in this scenario what would be Pat’s agenda? Begging for tax donations. Donations from certain industries, teachers working for free. Rich business men donating up to a years salary to keep a school open. They are following a belief system that will allow them to do so and to sacrifice for a cause. They may not be teaching Christianity to students but you know that it would be a Christian beleif in its intent. You will also know that the students and staff members will be influenced sooner or later.
How would you feel if everything tied back to the Pope? Instead of trips to Turkey we all went to back and took trips to Italy? Your state and federal dollars are funding this. Your tax donations also. But because you think your kid is receiving a better education you really should not be concerned. If the Vatican or Pat Robertson had created something like this here in America you would be livid. You would asking the same as us. Why would Pat need sympathisers? Why would the Vatican and what are they really gearing up for? These are our children and our tax dollars supporting the means to an end. Now imagine if either one of the groups threatened you for speaking out, questioning or critisizing there movement?
Go back Shay and read those links. Do more research on this. There are almost 200 schools like this one and they are expanding.
The parents in our area are NOT aware of this connection. How did other parents spread the word? When we mentioned it to someone, she looked at us like we’re crazy. Suggestions anyone?
The parents in our area are NOT aware of this connection. How did other parents spread the word? When we mentioned it another parent, we just got a weird look. Suggestions anyone?
Email this article and the one ones (all three) from the Salt Lake Tribune.
You do know how send a link? Also be sure that they do read the comments made on the article like you just did. There are a lot of links in these comments also. You can cut and paste them too. They may appear like a normal on the outside. Are parents on PA feeling like they are left outside of the loop when it comes to important information and decision making? Do some of the teachers feel the same way?
Curious, which area are you from? I have parents contact me from three different states with similar concerns and issues. I made sure that they had all the information.
More questions?
Again here we are questioning the financials of Sonoran Science Academy i.e Daisy Education.
In these hard times and financial difficulties its been asked, “How does a business afford to open three new schools in two years?” Where does the money come from and how is this possible? There sister school Paragon Science Academy was one of the new schools that opened last year and is now being absorbed and changing the name to Sonoran Science Academy Ahwatukie….But it does cost money to make that transition.
Now we are looking at one who claims to be effected by state and federal cutbacks but the board members are now looking into Oro Valley as well as another k-12 school in Phoenix.
Where is this money coming from and why do they act as if they are above the law of the land and can afford to make threats against anyone who makes these inquiries?
When ever anyone sees an organasation that exploits its volenteers and staff asking for public donations all the while expanding real estate deals and putting up new buildings you have ask these questions. As for me this is part of the reason I stopped going to church and became a free thinker.
http://www.sonoranacademy.org/district/Org…
http://www.asbcs.az.gov/userfiles/05_11_09…
In defence to exSSAParent:
Nan had written: As for the principal threatening the parent, I find this ludicrous, he is a fine and kind man who sincerely cares for the student body as well as all the teachers do.
ExssaParent had wrote the principal threatened him for holding staff members accountable for harrassment, throwing away a lunch, harrassing phone calls about shot records, bringing the attention of a student who wanted to cause harm to his own person to him, a teacher that took students to a place where alcohol was served, not to mention hiding an investagation of sexual harrassment from a male teacher to his daughter. What ever happened to those teachers and staff members?Whereby they (SSA) had to “PAY” a lawyer to say they had no obligation or duty to inform parents of anything. Our public money to do so.
So unless you can bring to the argument anything other than this is a good school and why should any of us care and to bring any proof that this is not a Gulen school then I would suggest that you shut your pie hole.
Nan, your friend is sure a real nice and caring guy, (sarcasm) but what I see is his incompatence to manage a school. Even from what I can read the board knew all of this. Including the state board. This is a place where you send your children at your own risk.
From the links and research that had already been done by others on this thread I am a beleiver. Others have written students may have left because they could not keep up. What have they done to help them succeed before they left? Did they even try to retain them? From what I am looking into are tactics that forces a family to make the choice of getting fed up and leaving because that child may be effecting the curve. Isn’t the money brought in based on that curve? I think what we have here is an elitist attude of, if you don’t like it leave. Charter schools are a public school that accepts federal money and any child may attend. So what is this compliance of the no child left behind? We may be looking at discrimination to add to all of this. So does Nan have anything to support that this is not Gulen school?
Outside of the Gulen issue, the problem with a school like this SSA and other charter schools is that they have broken the law. In my opinion and I am no lawyer but Mr. Karatas as well as the board directors at that time including the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools. All those that knew of this including the issue with that other childer who wanted to cause to (self) should be charged. Because of buying time to in hopes that I would not go to the Department of Education in which they did I was not knowing that you have to fike a greivance within 120 days. They won. I guess it is better to hide things from parents than to have a negitive view for the public. If it were my business I would have done right thing and followed the law. I would have held those accountable.
Even worse yet both the state board of charters and the department education knows about this yet because maybe they feel that SSA board members are a protected class that they will not pursue.
So when articles like that other one and this one comes up, a person like Nan my call Sour Grapes I would have to ask what in any of these cases if it were you child miss?
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/200…
They have all broken the law, each had knowledge of this, yet they are all held unaccountable.
Please if this is any indication of a Gulen School and what they stand for we should not want any part of it.
Then why has a lawsuit not been filed? Why have the disgruntled parents not pooled their money together and filed a suit? Speculation does not make a person guilty. If the facts are valid about criminal activity then why not a suit?
I actually have looked into the Gulen movement,I am so involved in my childs education that I did look it up. Sorry I find no fault with SSA. There is not a school that my child has attended that staff did not know me. I have been VP of PTF two yrs running at her elementary school and been heavily involved with fund raisers. Any thing suspicious and I was in the office fast, I have never been a lazy parent when it comes to my childs education, Research was done extensively before I enrolled het at SSA. Comming from private schools since K5, I know what to look for.
I still say sour grapes and if I find anything suspicious at SSA believe me I will be on them fast and not just speculate on a rag like the Weekly.
Well Nan~
It appears that you l have made your mind. I too was a parent that was actively involved. Donated time and went to shows and sporting events. I to was a parent that did all those things. Your child is lucky to have you and a family like yours. I wish that I could say the same.
Mr Karatas and the board had made their threats and I still accept it. By not following through they have have lost face and have words with out honor. A threat with out action is just another lie. I don’t understand how you or anyone else could possibly respect a man and or institutions who would do that. But, if that is the example you wish to follow then God bless. The Gulen Movement as represented by these men in thought and actions are just that. Because if I am in the wrong then I would be more than happy to have a jury of peers decide that. They know it.
I have “counted my coup.” I get the respect and there is only two ways for them to get that back. Follow through with the threat or hold those accountable and apologize. Either of which they are lacking in character and moral integrity to do so, ever. As represenitives of there country and this nationalist movement; they should be very proud of themselves.
Nan,
You looked into the Gulen movement? Or did you just decide that you liked the school and that was that? I would like to know what you read about the movement and Fetullah Gulen, and where you got your information. I have spent so many hours looking up and reading articles on this man, and by him,and much of it concerns me. Could you please share where you got your info when you looked into this?
Well as far as being “sour grapes”, I can’t be that, I don’t even have kids at the school. I am a concerned “tax payer”, and the things that I have found out about these schools are quite alarming. I don’t believe for a moment that you have done any research into Gulen and his movement, and as far as not seeing anything suspicious at SSA, do you really think that they would be doing things openly? If you aren’t a lazy parent then why don’t you back up your assertions with some facts, maybe you could tell everyone what exactly you have researched and where you found it? Being a fund raiser hardly makes you an expert on what is going on at the school. I really can’t believe that with the links readily available, people with kids at this school wouldn’t look into it. Are your beliefs (hopes) really that fragile?
My kids have attended Sonoran Science Academy for several years. The school is wonderful. There are many nationalities of teachers but Most are American. Most of the Turkish teachers are in the math and sciences and are brilliant. The benefit of having the Turkish teachers is that they are excellent in math and science, very dedicated and very professional..WE DID NOT HAVE AND SEE ANT PROBLEM THERE..
KTK
Please go back and read the comments. You have over stated what the issue isn’t.
Go to the beginning of the comments left. Follow the links and do your own research. The issue is not academics.
Well Edna and concerned parent I went to all the links posted here by ex ssa parent as well as others and then I did my own research with google. I read and formed my own opinion just as you have.I don’t apologise for not agreeing with you as I believe most of you to be radicals reminiscint of a witch hunt and seeking and accusing people of being commies.
This isn’t about the grades of the school. Even though some parents have boasted on this board that SSA had been nominated #1 charter school, but did you ever question by whom?
The reason this school was nominated #1 charter school (yes grades did factor) but also because, now this is very important, because they spend less money per student than any other school. TUSD spends a little over 9,000 per student, SSA spends about just a little over 6,300 per student. Now public and charter schools receive the same per student. They are competing for the same dollar. I am no math wizard but that sounds like huge profits to me.
Now the question is, what is done with remainder of that money? Mr. Karatas stated the school had been hit with cut backs. I found a source that shows us this is false.
A teacher has complained and blogged about not getting paid. He used the word “we” in his blog, more than one teacher. In how many schools? I don’t know. I think we found the answer. Could it be rob the help of wages, pull the heart strings of parents and business to donate.
Then on the schools meeting minutes and the meeting with the state board of charters there is plans for expansion. Viola! A new school is made! New Gulen follower openings. Vice principle on up and including some teachers. Not all come from Turkey they are harvested right out of other Gulen institutes in Spain and Belgium. Its a good racket.
But this does not explain that falling under the rules of a “non-profit” that they are only allowed to use 10% of all income for administration fees. (wages) the remainder for building up keep, supplies, office tools, classroom materials and the like. From what I know many teachers are begging for these things and even encourage parents to donate a lot of this stuff. Something just isn’t right about that. Stevie Wonder can even see that from here.
So Nan, after doing your extensive research, did you come to the conclusion that SSA is, or most likely is involved with the Gulen movement?
Hi,
I am from Turkey. Actually lot’s of Turkish people are opposing Gulen movement due to its links with CIA. They started opening schools in ex-soviet and Turkic speaking countries such as Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan. Now they have schools even in Papua New Gunniea. Apparently they had the support of US institutions. Now they are in US! 🙂 Any way in Turkey people oppose them since they have secret US agenda, in USA they blame them to have secret Turkish agenda. I really don’t know the truth. All I know is poor Fethullah Gulen who might be a sweet and good fellow, have millions of haters in his own country. Seems he is vastly developing haters now in USA. Very unfortunate for him. It is not him to blame, it is his supporters who blindly seeks power in his name. They claim to create an environment of tolerance; however they lack the tolerance to those who approach them with suspicion and threat their existence. They should know that there will be always such people and if they behave as they are behaving now then Gulen will be the most hated person in the world (most likely in the top 10 list of the Turkish people at the moment! Thanks to his so called supporters…)
Gulen is not a nationalist. He is rather a fundamentalist who wants the undermine the secular Turkish state. Thus he does in the states. He has an highly ambivalent character and I want to warn the American families. Do not send your children to Gulen schools. This movement is a conspirative, brain-washing and manipulative psuedo-religious sect. We do have very negative experiences with these people in Turkey.
Thank you my Turkish friends!! Do you have any more information that you would like share? Or any one esle? One thing I do know for sure is that here that may not be teaching Islam to kids. But from what you can read they were gaining sympathisers. It would just be a matter time when the numbers of influance and money take off that the curriculim could change. Would you be able to explain some of the things Gulen Members have done to others in your country?
It would appear that in this article the Gulen Movement is pressing to change the education system in Germany. Only the Anti-German is supprting Gulen and his ideals. Gulen wnats to re write the history books for Germany and Turkey.
Communities in the city of Munich, Germany on February 9 at an international symposium “Islamic Movement” under the title of the Gülen Movement in the West is getting ready to promote dialogue as a partner.
Symposium on Community’s student association IDIZEM Munich Munich city, Germany’s leading in the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Public High School, Prophet Abraham (Freunde Abrahams) an organization called Friends of the Protestant Church and the Catholic Church represents the “Pax Christi” movement is organizing jointly.
Among the speakers from Washington and Said-i Nursi Gulen Prof known for their research. Dr. Thomas Michel, Ercan Karakoyun from Berlin from Moscow, Prof. Dr. Leonid R. Sykiainen has. Also from Turkey, Fatih University Dr. War and the Patriarchate spokesman Dr Young. Father will join Dositheos Anagnostopoulos.
Symposium on religions and between cultures in the Gulen Movement in working for peace and dialogue efforts will be recognized as an organization.
Symposium on Regulated and organizations under the leadership of the Orthodox Church the night of the year so-called “Armenian Genocide” commemorative ceremonies were held.
Churches and intensive dialogue with the Jewish community especially in the bargain of the Gülen Movement in Germany, mainly training activities, dialogue, continues on compliance issues.
National Vision and its subsidiaries for years while under the German Constitution Protection Agency’s follow-up, Gülen Movement are ignored. Constitution Protection Agency’s periodic reports it removed the name of Gülen and the movement does not even pass because, Gülen Movement credibility and reliability to prove to the church and the Jewish community in cooperation with the conscious activities of the German Constitution and the laws according to continue. In this way, their real purpose as successful for years and they have to keep pressing.
The purpose of these activities in Turkey and the German institutions distort history and government with the support of Turkey, and Turkey about the unstable is to create a false image. With the support of foreign countries, the biggest targets Secular Turkey’s General Staff and to damage Turkey’s entry to the EU is to prevent.
Gulen’s “philosopher of peace such as” showing the German media, he mentioned that while living in the United States, why there saying that the law does not provide information to the persistent attitude continues for years. On the other hand the German Ministry of Education of the growing day by day as the school allows them to Gülen, Turkey are contrary to integration policy for immigrants.
Appears that the anti-German politicians and German media in Turkey in this regard is seen as the strategic partner of the Gülen and his activities are supported.
Atilla Coşkun
Odatv.com
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Even the people back home in Turkey can see through the smoke that this movement and charter schools are faith based and religious in its intentions.
Fethullah Gülen Community in the last days, especially in English language publication, “faith-based movement” that is the ‘faith-based movement’ began to be called. Today’s Zaman in English or other community sites that publish the “community” is highlighted instead of “faith-based action” under emphasis consolidated at a more prestigious look to foreigners wonder of community effort is lying?
In Turkish will not be much use, especially in the sight of America and the UK government which has a meaning “faith-based movement,” includes a sense highly prestigious. Have a religious framework, but no more than jobs and help people focus on issues such as these are non-profit organizations, and in America, state by state support and fonlanıyorlar. Already the congregation in a foreign language in the journal several times about his “we are not sectarian.” Say the boil went further and “we are faith-based movement, our goal is not profit, just to help people.” Seems to have become.
A change of this capacity is not known, but not if they are useful, although it can not be seen in Turkey as in Germany Lighthouse common cause very serious damage to the credibility of the congregation is given the middle.
Odatv.com
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The Turkish Fethullah Gülen movement is really an Islamic fundamentalist group, claims Rotterdam council member Anita Fähmel (Leefbaar Rotterdam) on the basis of her own study of the Turkish movement. The Dutch intelligence service claimed in the past after a study that the movement is not an organization which is dangerous to the state.
For her study the council member looked up public sources. She also says she had at her disposal documents entrusted to her. Fähmel now concludes that the Gülen movement is a group which plays an important role in the Islamization of Turkey and which makes use of intimidation, discrimination and oppression.
She bases herself on a study of the Bogazici University, according to her the most prominent university of Turkey. In this study of the Islamization of Turkey, the movement came out very badly, writes the councillor in her study. “The Gülen movement uses intimidation, discrimination and oppression to accomplish its goals.”
Former Minister of Integration and Housing, Ella Vogellar (Labor Party) had the AIVD do a study after the Parliament asked for one after a broadcast of the actuality program Nova in July about the organization. Turkey experts explained in the broadcast that the movement which is known as moderate and which receives a government subsidy, has a double agenda.
The Turkish Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen did not strive for dialog but for the Islamization of society, it was argued in the program. the movement had thousands of supporters in the Netherlands and is active in education, media and in business.
After the AIVD study, Vogelaar reported that Fethullah Gülen is not turning against Dutch society. “They do not turn away from the West at all,” said the minister. “the movement is just very socially involved.”
Fähmel says she hopes that she proves with her study that the movement really holds influence in Rotterdam “and that this influence raises barriers against integration, freedom, education and security.” The councillor thinks that her reports is at the least a reason to make a better study of the organization. Fähmel will present the results of her study Thursday in the Administration, ,Security and Means committee meeting.
The relationship between the Gülen movement and the institutions described above is loose and one more of inspiration than organization. As in Turkey, the movement is extremely decentralized. For example, there appears to be no central recordkeeping office for the Gülen-related institutions in Germany; each city or town is responsible for organizing and maintaining its own schools and centers. Moreover, many of the participants in the centers and schools appear to have no idea that they are inspired in any way by the ideas of Gülen. According to the head of the Wedding Educational Center, 80 percent of the parents are unaware that the centers are connected in any way with the Gülen movement since the staff does not typically talk about it with them. Indeed, he emphasized that most teachers are there because they believe in what the centers are doing, not because they are necessarily inspired by Gülen. The Director of the Learning Center in Ingolstadt estimated that more than fifty percent of the members of the Association but only two or three of the teachers have anything to do with the movement. In any case, every director and representative with whom I spoke was clearly influenced by the ideas and practice of the movement
Read more: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli…
Hi, one concerned american citizen asked whether it is possible to gain more insight into the Gulen movement. Please just type “Gülen” at youtube. You will see some sermons he gave before he fleeed to the States. This guy is psychologically distorted. And I really do not know why his followers are allowed to charter schools in the States. Go to your government! Do something about that. These guys are really dangerous. I do not try to manipulate you. Research on internet, build your own opinion and ACT!
Some have us had researched his sermons on You tube. The problem is none of us speak Turkish. I wish somebody would find them and gove those videos Englosh Subtitles. But disturbing enough here is the Gulen You Tube Channel in English. The pearls of wisdom videos are disturbing enough. Also on this link you can see SSA mentioned again in the Turkish Olympiads.
http://www.youtube.com/user/GulenMovement#…
ok take that for seeing an excellent example of mass hystery:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNVPibhuxic
should these guys educate your children?
Nan?
Any comments on these latest posts- especially the ones from Turkey? I assume you read them?
I can’t speak for Edna, but I wasn’t calling you a Commie, only uninformed. maybe also loyal to the school to the extreme of not investigating the facts. I’m wondering if you really did look up ALL the posts by exsaa parent, and if you did if you thoroughly read them? Why didn’t research anything else but his stuff? Why don’t you read
“The Organizational Strategies of Fethullah Gulen”? This is heavy reading and around 12 pages, but well worth the time. Read about who wrote it. Google Turkish Charter Schools or Fetullah Gulen schools and see what comes up. Find out what is going on in the world around you. Look up the Act For America article that came out in the spring of 2009. Check their sources, like “Jane’s Analysis”. Most of the posts written by parents and students from the school are reminiscent of that old beach boys song “Rah! Rah! Rah! Be true to your school, let your colors fly now…”
TurkishSoilder I have already seen that video and that is hitting below the belt. We have preachers in this country that have similar styles in preaching religion. Our concern is not to attack any particlar sect or belief. What we are upset about is the intention, the approach and means that was taken to advance the cause. Again they may not be teaching Islam to the children, but it is Gulen’s philosophies that have inspired these schools. From the research the intention is clear. But yet the denial by the board and Mr. Karatas is alarming.
Through that there is another objective other than teaching science and math (in refernce to Obama’s State of Union) These are legitamate concerns for us the parents and the community at large. There are way too many coincidences that point back to Gulen and our own government. Please, just take your children and walk away. Nobody needs our supprt that bad. At the expence of our children and tax dollars. Just walk away.
The luncheon of Gulen institute which is to prommote respect and coapertion with out discrimination and of people of diverse back grounds.
Also from this video which had been dicussed earlier. That the Gulen Movement has no interest in political pursuits is a lie. They constantly contradict themselves. The Gulen Movement has their fingers into everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbZsVfUnhKI
Fethullah Gulen is very close to the ruling AKP political party in Turkey. (It’s no coincidence that some SSA students met President Abdullah Gul last year.)
So let’s see how “tolerant” the AKP is:
BBC News Dec 19, 2008 called “Secular Turks facing prejudice”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7792239.…
A report in Turkey has highlighted “very worrying” evidence of increased discrimination against secular Turks. The study, called “Being Different in Turkey”, links this directly to the presence of the religious conservative AK Party in government. It details widespread social pressure on non-devout Muslims to attend Friday prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan or wear a headscarf. // It suggests that a government policy of making appointments to local administrations on the basis of political and religious beliefs, rather than competence, is forcing non-devout Turks to change their habits in order to protect their business or their jobs. // The AK Party has its roots in Political Islam, but has always insisted its views have changed. // The report cites page upon page of examples: non-religious nurses put on permanent night shift; landlords refusing to take female student tenants unless they wear a headscarf; secular civil servants bypassed for promotion.
Check out this website http://www.kidsandcultures.org
I thought this was an interesting blog that was found on another websight.
Fahrettin Altay Pasha COMMENTED ON THIS POST Date November 3, 2009 at 05:40.
The FG CULT own most of the newspapers and channels in Turkey. Anything anybody does or says which is negative about this movement is bullied, ridiculed and lied about. Newspapers such as TARAF, ZAMAN, TV Stations such as Samanyolu, Kanal 7 all publicise how Gulen and his movement are making this world a better place to live. Its all a lie! Dont forget people, Gulen came to the US in the mid 90’s with nothing. The CIA openned up its funding and gave Gulen anything he wanted. Within 10 years, Gulen’s empire has an annual income of circa 20 billion USD… This is mainly through his schools and publishing and broadcasting empire. His papers and tv’s are spending alot of resources these days broadcasting how seculism is not the true path and the tru path is that of Sharia.
Gulens main paper’s Taraf and Zaman sell in Turkey (these are also exporeted and printed around the world) for less than the price of unrefined paper! Work that out! This is an example of some of the beleifs Gulen has… (Try searching for him on Utube.) He has a tender to cry and make his audience feel sorry and they pretty much are in with Gulen, hook, line and sinker.
Gulen is known for saying “To prove them wrong, you need to do anything within your power, that includes bribery and if required spend 1 billion in order to have them pay a fine of 1 million. The point is have them be lowered in the peoples eyes”
This man is in the brink of bringing Turkey to its knees. He is solely behind everyhitng negative in Turkey today. For example, the ERGENEKON case is that of Gulens planning (backed by CIA) the aim is to weaken the Turkish Armed Forces.
Speak to your congressmen, why is this man allowed to stay in the US? He has no citizenship. He should be asked to leave.
Do some searching on the web, I know of many people (have a personal friend) who was deep with these people. They finally broke free and all they can tell you is how dangerous these people are.
Why did the CIA support him?
concerned asked why the protection? Gulen and Erdorgen are buddies. It would seem that Turkey is being “Geared Up” as the next theater of war.
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Arti…
Why else would you need many many American sypathisers for Turkey? To get the public aproval and support for the troops. Meanwhile like 911 all those at the top are making bank off the backs of soilders, defence contracts and politacal refugees.
FYI, all: Comments on this story will be closed later tonight. So, if you have comments, make them now.
I agree with “tw reader”, call your congressmen and anyone else who has the ability to do something about this organization. If they weren’t so deceptive about their ties it wouldn’t be so problematic, but even after overwhelming proof of connections they continue denying it! (see the mail bag in the opinion tab and look for the letter from Karatas), why are they so concerned with distancing themselves from their leader? If he is such a good man, and his organization is so wonderful, then why not tell the world? Whenever someone or some group is so secretive, especially when our tax dollars are at stake, there is a compelling reason for it. I find it laughable that Karatas says in his letter that if only the reporter would come to the school he would see that they are open to scrutiny, and have nothing to hide. How on earth would that make any difference? This organization needs to either be shut down, or do some serious, honest explaining as to what they are up to!!! So in conclusion, go to your local FBI office, and if you are reading this in another city with one of these schools, try to find a journalist with the guts to write an article such as this one, if we expose them they will wither away, and if we can make enough complaints to the right governmental agencies they will be forced to take action. If they try to threaten you, stand up to them, they don’t want to go through any “discovery” from a law suit, they wouldn’t be able to explain away all of their inconsistencies. What ever you do don’t give up, tell every one you know what is going on, that is the key to defeating them, one at a time
Dear Mr Vanderpool,
It is through a reference to your article in Tucson weekly (Hidden Agenda 31st Dec 2009)) that I was able to read the article and comment on it. The subject of the article, Fethullah Gulen, is not a “scholar”. He is an imam, like a priest in one of your churches. He has no formal education but somehow he found his way into the Religious Affairs Administration’s payroll in Turkey as an imam. In Turkey imams are responsible of a single mosque and the are paid by the state even though we are a secular society. But somehow this person has been able to promote himself as a scholar and open up schools all around the world with funds from unknown sources. He is not in exile in the USA; may be a self imposed one. His activities had been cause for several legal investigations and somehow these were prosecuted too late or too leniently and in some cases laws were changed for him. Still he is afraid of coming back because I guess he is afraid that the current government, which is an Islamist one (in a secular country) and unfortunately supported by the USA through several mechanisms, might be toppled through elections and then he might again be in legal trouble. He has a hidden agenda but not the one you are afraid of. He is trying and has almost succeeded in establishing in Turkey a Moderate Islamist State to serve as a model for the countries around Turkey including Iraq.This is his agenda. He is first an islamist. His “Turkish goals” are just a front. I wish he would work against what you call the Armenian “Genocide” claims on which I completely disagree with you and could discuss the issue on another occasion. Gulen and his followers are very dangerous and there is almost a Mc Carthyist wind blowing in Turkey against secular and Nationalist Turks, including newspaper people like yourself, writers, academics, 3 University presidents a majority of whom have been jailed. So you have to be very careful. His people have computer headquarters probably in Utah from where they serve falsified information to the prosecutors in Turkey to accuse innocent people. So watch out. They have several schools in New Jersey. Generally the school names involve a reference to light, hope and tolerance. His schools are excellent in science training but then the religious training follows. The most famous are Samanyolu (Milkyway). They have cotrol of several media outlets such as TV stations (again Samanyolu) and newspapers (the most famous is Zaman (Time) and is also published in English as Today’s Zaman).
Dear Mr Vanderpool, I have spent time in the US, I like the American people in general, may be not very happy with the US policies around the world but anyway, I want you and the American citizens to open their eyes and see the threat confronting you. It would be best if you were to extradite them just as the Russians and Azerbaijanis and Iranians did. Good luck and kind regards. Neco (Turkey)
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Neco, would you be interested in posting information on a web site concerning this topic? the site address is allthefactsplease.weebly.com it sounds like you have much valuable information, and it appears that the posts will stop on this article tonight. If you would be willing to do this it would be much appreciated. And thanks for the things you told us here!
Why are the comments being shut down?
So it would appear that in closing Mr. Karatas had back peddled to state that there is nothing to hide. If there was nothing to hide then why make threats in the first place? He sure as hell tried to hide something from me. Not only myself but the other student that I was concerned about. Not to mention having to pay money to have a lawyer state to the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools that they had no duty to inform parents of anything concerning harm or sexual harassment. Even knowing that the Arizona State Board of Charters Schools has no teeth or any authority to enforce any law, penalties or investigate any issues. They are no better than the BBB. This is your tax money being used to cover their asses and the outside image.
We also need to consider the teacher who stopped off to have few cocktails in Sedona with a couple of her students. That teacher had been paid to go to and from SAT camp safely. Somehow I really don’t think this was on the itinerary. Yet the PA and the board and Mr Karatas refuses to hold this person accountable. Pictures sent , time stamped and dated his only argument is baseless and unsubstantiated. I am more than willing to prove him wrong.
Let us not forget the November newsletter and the article in November in the Arizona Daily Star. Charters were not even touched in the cut backs. Yet he had blatantly stated they were. This is fraud.
We also consider Mr. Karats offer to see the school. Which is fine for outside appearances but what we are concerned about is the inside of the school. Which leads us to question the educational development of the children. Are really receiving a quality education? or are they just being coached to memorize short term what is really on the state tests? Only a “pop quiz” could decide this. I feel that they are skewing the numbers. In fact this has already been told to me.
We also need to consider the fact for a school to cry poor but miraculously pop up new real estate deals and open up another school under their charter. We have seen a teacher who went by the pen name of Bilal Temal who stated that the school had been effected by cut backs and that there is belt tightening every where. He used the word “we” which tells me more than one Turkish teacher had not been paid for months. If this isn’t true then it was a plea for Turkish business owners back home to donate. If this is true then SSA is in violation labor laws and we would have to question as to why anyone would tolerate such abuse.
Let us look at the broken links that SSA was in fact featured on the gulen website. I took screen shots before the link was broken. If anyone interested I would be more than happy to share. Also the pictures of the teachers in Sedona. You tell me why this teacher should not be fired? This was done on school time.
Why should the board get away with murder? There is a state law that a public figure like Mr Karatas and the board has a duty to inform those of danger or harm to child. The right court and officials would agree with this. So to threaten me with a lawsuit is absorbed All four should have done there job and done the right thing. I did not want money from the school nor would I want to. My concern is for the children. As stated here when I pressed for them to do the right thing, After three emails to Mr Karats that he had ignored and finally answered I sent emails to the board of directors. In which they also ignored. Never ever did I get an answer before going to the worthless Arizona State Board of Charter Schools.
From Ozcurt Yilditz tp Fatih Karatas, ADam Aksuz, Ercan Aydogdu
Dear Team,
I DO not know this person I have recieved a few emials lately.
SHould I contact our attorneys to deal with him. He is not acting OK in his E-mails.
He may want to get some money out of these things.
PLease advise I do not want to ignore it.
Yildiz
________________________
I somehow fail to understand that informing the board of wrong doings and failure to react when it comes to the health and safety of a child equals to a lawsuit. I informed then it is up tp them to the right thing. Notify the parents of harm. It is more than obvious they are so self absorbed in the idea of business that they cannot do the right thing for a child and family. I never wanted money or anything else. I wanted that kid to get help and to hold his staff accountable period. Instead I get threatened with a lawsuit. How crazy is that?
Excuse me for caring about a child I never met. As a public figure and the law Mr. Karatas had a duty to inform the parents. So did the board. As well as holding those accountable. The bottom line with these people is the bottom line. Your children are just numbers and spokes in the cog. For this we should question the true motives of these people and where the heart is tuely measured. Where do they get off on a parent and an adult that cares for children and to threaten him?
IS this Gulen Movement about peace or numbers and money? To sell an image on what is going on the outside. It’s a sales job and you have all been dupped.
I’d like to add my query along with “question”, why are the comments being shut down?
REad this and the comment left. Does he really respect anything?
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/mailbag…
here is the letter from Mr. Karats
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/mailbag…
I think he is full of bull. Considering my letter from the layer and my responce.
They are not intrested in awards and trophies? They keep relaying on this. What we want to know is what is happening on the inside. Karatas tells the weekly something differnet from the facts. The boards attorney tells us something different. Read the letter from the schools attorney and this letter.
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On behalf of Sonoran Science Academy-Tucson, we write this letter to formally respond to the Tucson Weekly article, published on Dec. 31, under the title of “Hidden Agenda? Parents Raise Concerns That a Tucson Charter School Has Ties to a Turkish Nationalist Movement.” We hope that you will consider printing this letter, to give your readers the opportunity to draw their own conclusions about the biased and one-sided “investigation” that led to the article. We also invite Tucson Weekly to visit our campus to get a more accurate picture of SSA, which is a transparent, public institution open to any questions or inquiries by public media officials. SSA highly respects the freedom of speech and expression.
The article by Tim Vanderpool raised questions about possible links between Sonoran Science Academy-Tucson (a public K-12 charter school) and a “Turkish nationalist movement.” The article was based on comments and allegations by a third party who apparently spoke to Mr. Vanderpool on the basis of anonymity. Mr. Vanderpool contacted Mr. Karatas, the principal, by phone to ask a few questions regarding the matter. Mr. Karatas kindly welcomed the inquiry. On at least three occasions during this call, Mr. Karatas requested that Mr. Vanderpool visit the school. Mr. Vanderpool stated that he was unable to visit and insisted on a telephone interview.
In the article, numerous quotes by Mr. Karatas were taken out of context. It sounded as if the school principal was “threatening the parents,” which clearly was not the case. Mr. Karatas has great respect for the fundamental constitutional right of every individual to express him/herself and would never threaten a student, parent or staff member. To our regret and disappointment, Mr. Karatas’ statements were tailored to fit the story, rather than attempting to show his authentic answers (and message) to the questions being raised.
The history and foundation of SSA-Tucson goes back to three visionary Tucson-based Turkish scientists (a prominent engineer at Texas Instruments, highly acclaimed heart surgeon in Tucson Medical Center and a researcher at the College of Optical Sciences at the UA) who saw an immediate need for quality math and science education in Tucson. These three visionaries established SSA-Tucson as a charter school that would focus on math, science and technology while providing a solid foundation in liberal arts education. SSA-Tucson has never had, and does not currently have, any links to any religious or nationalist movements. SSA is nationally acclaimed as a model school by US News and World Report, Newsweek and the American Mathematics Association. Most recently, SSA-Tucson was honored to be Arizona’s Charter School of the Year.
SSA takes pride in its transparency and dedication to serving the community. We were deeply saddened by the blatantly one-sided story written by Mr. Vanderpool and published by the Tucson Weekly.
Fatih Karatas
Principal, Sonoran Science Academy-Tucson
Give us the names of those who founded SSA and we could most certanly see the Accord Institute, Pacifica an Gulen.