Why Wait for Superman?
“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.” Khalil Gibran
The movie about Charter Schools “Waiting for Superman” a catchy title and is available on Netflix and On Demand. All of us who are interested in the equitable education of our children should see and evaluate it.
My evaluation is that the movie points out dreadful inequities in our public education, but does not define the problem or suggest real solutions. The movie blames teachers for poverty, immigration, desperation and failing schools. But aren’t all voters in a community responsible for turning a blind eye to children, for accepting failure and denying the opportunity for success? Believing that charter schools in and of them selves are a solution is as far off the mark as believing that Clark Kent becomes superman in a phone booth.
I don’t know all the problems that are faced by children in the lowest income quartile. But whether they are Caucasian, or of color, or our youngest citizens or immigrants, they are suffering, vulnerable, marginalized, and often poorly prepared for school.
Many studies have been done on children’s vocabulary showing that children of very low-income families may have one-half the English vocabulary of those living in families with higher incomes. This is especially true of bilingual children. How do we support and teach these children effectively?
In addition, parents in the higher quartiles offer a variety of activities to their children and discuss them, but children’s parents in the lowest quartile may not have the time or money to offer these experiences. How do we engage all children in varied activities and conversation?
Another point, children in the lowest income quartile may live in a negative environment, where parents, teachers and principals lack expectations. Can we create environments of hope and joy for them?
Well-respected educators, public high school principal George Wood and charter school founder Ted Sizer, call us to evaluate charter schools according to principles of access, equity, and public purpose-public ownership. Historically, these principles have concerned people of faith who look for justice in traditional public education.
Please email if you know of successful public programs, or church programs that support children in the lowest income quartile, and improve their academic record. We will post church programs on our web site.
http://www.lenababy.com/Study.aspx
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=vocabulary+of+bilingual+children&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
http://www.ucc.org/search-results.html?cx=004140695161086210870%3Aqbbk4dptm5e&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Ted+Sizer+%26+George+Wood#369
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/nov/11/myth-charter-schools/
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