Proposed Charter School To Emphasize Patriotism, Capitalism

A proposal for new charter school will be heard on Tuesday night in Idaho Falls. The twist: the school would focus on patriotism and capitalism.

A group advocating for the creation of the school will present a proposal in front of the Idaho Falls District 91 Board at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“Schools at least when I was growing up, stayed out of trying to push kids one way or another,” said Debra Infanger, who is part of the group advocating for the school.

Infanger said she believes school should be about facts, without any radical slant to the left or right.

“I think it’s just a basic misunderstanding of who we are as Americans,” she said.

Arnold Friberg’s famous portrait of George Washington in “Prayer at Valley Forge” holds a special place for Infanger. In it, she sees what she calls a misunderstanding of American values staring back at her. While teaching a high school class, she said she held the painting up. Only one student knew the kneeling white-haired figure was the first American president.

“I think it is a direct result of our failure to do our duty,” she said.

At a public hearing to the District 91 board, Infanger will present a plan to open the American Heritage Charter School in the now-empty New Sweden School on 35th West.

“Our goal in our vision statement is that we’re trying to create patriotic and educated leaders,” said Infanger.

Infanger is on the governing board of a similar charter school in Gooding. It’s been operating for 4 years using Core Knowledge Foundation curriculum.

The school will focus on the free-market system and encourage patriotism in students. But Infanger insists it won’t be a narrow curriculum.

“How can you be a true American citizen if you don’t understand the world?” she said.

Tuesday night’s meeting will be held at the District 91 office at 690 John Adams Pkwy in Idaho Falls, and is open to the public.