The title above has always been my class motto. Every student had to learn the motto and it was usually a question about this quote on every midterm and final exam. First, let me thank you for taking the time to read this first blog post. The purpose of this blog will be to enlighten, inform and hopefully set some free from the mystical myths about education reform in America, specifically Urban America.
My background is in the field of education, I have taught for the past five years and previously worked in student development/student affairs. I have always been passionate about working with youth and have over 10 years of experience working, volunteering and mentoring youth in schools, organizations and my church. I have always worked with Title one schools (poor schools with 70% or more of the student population at or below poverty). I have been the innovative teacher that has learned to juggle the NCLB Standards, state standards, school standards/goals for the test and real academics, giving my students what they really need to succeed in school and life. After years of questioning curriculum, testing, and ridiculous policy of the Chicago Public School system. I simply have come to believe that School Reform is no more than a title that is thrown around to support policy programs disguised as Choice for poor schools; but in reality it is a systematic approach of keep those in poverty, IN POVERTY, while educating students in outliner affluent districts to manage and employ the next entry level worker.
I am sure some may think the previous statement is far fetched. But when Urban schools continue to fight for funding, curriculum and reduce turn over, you create a sense of chaos for students and staff. Many urban schools lack stability and children internalize that stability. At the last school I taught at I was asked the second month of school if I was planning to return next year by several students. The school had been open for two years and had a 40-50% turn over of teaching staff. In the third year it was 30% (I believe this was mainly due to a newly formed union) However, this past June even with the union, there was again 50% turnover of staff including two principals. We finished the school year from March -June without a principal and the previous year the VP was fired three months into the school year. This was in one small charter school, but this story is happening all across America.
I will close by stating that it is no coincidence that charter schools are in predominantly poor Black and Hispanic communities. The business world is making millions because many urban communities are simply not literate (informed or aware) about the design and goals of the charter movement. Charter schools as a whole are just as segregated as any other public schools. Don't get me wrong there are schools that are great as charters, but the majority have done no better in comparison to all public schools, yet the money funding the charter movement marketing campaign leads you to believe that charters are the Messiah of education reform. Did you know that a charter can't exist with out the communities consent? Tell your friends to do their homework, don't let a MBA degree with no education experience come in your community and run your school. They make lots of promises and although, aesthetically, the school is gorgeous, be more concerned about the curriculum and texts used, the education of admin. credentials and the character of the administration. If we an jack up education today we won't have to worry about a middle class in 20 years, because there won't be one. Maybe I should say there will be a larger lower class.
K. J. Perkins
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