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By Kent Larsen
Covey Attacked for London, Ontario Schools Use of Book, Seminars
LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA -- Parents, teachers and activists in the
London, Ontario schools are attacking their school board over the
used of training materials and seminars produced by Franklin-Covey,
the firm founded by LDS Church members Hyrum Smith and Stephen R.
Covey. But while the complaints allege that the money could be better
used and that the materials don't help make better teachers and
instruction in the district, they also claim that the materials
promote the teachings of the LDS Church. And some of the complaints
seem to object simply because Stephen R. Covey is Mormon.
The complaints were published in recent articles in the London Free
Press. In those reports critics claimed that the public school board
in London has "come under the sway" of a "Mormon business guru." The
parents, education activists and former school trustees allege that
teachers and administrators are forced to take Franklin-Covey
seminars to get promoted and worry that the board is spending
"unknown amounts of money" on the company's materials while programs
for students are being cut. One school board trustee, Terry Roberts,
is also charged with a conflict of interest because he has a contract
with Franklin-Covey.
Another article charges that the book "The Seven Habits of Highly
Successful Teens" by Covey's son, Sean Covey, is being used as a
textbook in a guidance program and that the book is distributed to
all students in the high school.
But the school district disputes many of the claims. John Laughlin,
education director of the Thames Valley board does admit, "We use
some of their material to offer personal and professional growth. Its
only one of the programs we offer to people who ask for it." The
board also uses some Franklin-Covey material in its training programs
for teachers and administrators and some schools purchase planners
for students from Franklin-Covey subsidiary, Premier School Agendas.
According to district records, the Franklin-Covey materials cost the
board $35,000 to $40,000 (Canadian) this year and $65,000 to $70,000
last year, according to Laughlin. But he says that the district
recoups about half that amount by charging those taking the
Covey-based course $300 each.
But beyond the cost, what troubles some critics is the degree to
which Covey materials have been integrated into the district's plans,
including its cornerstone plan for every staff member, school and
student -- called
"Attainment of Our Vision." The 32-pages in the plan written by the
Board includes Covey concepts such as "paradigm shift" and "circles
of concern," charge the critics.
From these complaints some critics have gone even farther, charging
that the Franklin-Covey material is of a "cultish nature." University
of Western Ontario associate professor of education Rebecca Coulter
told the London Free Press that the London board should be careful
about using an "American model with ties to the Mormon Church," and
added that the Franklin-Covey material smacks of "indoctrination."
London School Board Special Education Advisory Committee member Carol
Hawthorne asked, "How is this program run by Mormon leaders going to
be inclusive and address our diverse population?" And former Board
trustee Cynthia Nurse said she found Covey's materials troubling
because Franklin-Covey and the Covey philosophy seem to have "very
close ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
But Laughlin continued to dispute the claims, saying that the
Franklin-Covey materials were not overtly religious, "If you can
point to me the connection ... to any faith, I would be more than
pleased to look at it. I haven't seen it."
Sources:
School board under firm's sway: critics
London Canada Free Press 30Aug01 B2
By Hank Daniszewski and Randy Richmond: Free Press Reporters
Trustees worried about 'cultish' nature of Covey
London Canada Free Press 30Aug01 B2
By Hank Daniszewski and Randy Richmond: Free Press Reporters
'American biz-babble' in schools slammed
London Canada Free Press 31Aug01 B2
By Hank Daniszewski and Randy Richmond: Free Press Reporters
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