Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Wall: An Open Letter to the Board of Regents
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Next week, once again, you will be meeting regarding the proposed Achievement First Mayoral Academy. The academy will be located in the capital city and is expected to serve students from Providence, Cranston, North Providence and Warwick. Whenever the subject of charter schools is brought up, it seems to have a polarizing effect. On one side, there are promises of something new, innovative and successful. On the other side, there are the concerns regarding the diversion of resources, financial and otherwise, that could potentially harm our traditional school systems.
Our governor believes that there is “broad support” for an Achievement First Mayoral Academy in Providence. However, the public hearings indicated that the community is largely divided on the proposed school. It’s been said that Achievement First schools are high quality and successful. Earlier this month, reports came out that Achievement First schools in Connecticut failed to meet AYP benchmarks. Not long after, it was reported that Achievement First schools graduation rate claims are inflated and misleading, due to a student attrition rate that is estimated to be around 50%. The discussion of the academy’s viability has become an “us versus them” debate. Which system of schooling is better, corporate charter or traditional public? Educational conversations should be about preparing students for the future, not about contention or competition. However, in an economic climate that causes teachers to be fired and neighborhood schools to be closed, tension and anxiety are high.
One of the core value statements of Achievement First is, ”no excuses.” It supports a philosophy which asserts that nothing should stand in the way of the quest for academic excellence. This is an admirable statement. However, when applied to student discipline, it may translate into punitive rules. Issues that would be considered minor in many public schools are strictly punished in Achievement First schools. According to the Achievement First handbook, many rule infractions are punished by placing students in an isolation “den.” Students in the “den” are forbidden communication with their peers and are prohibited from wearing the school uniform. Discipline can be an effect tool. It can be both a motivator and a deterrent. However, extreme disciplinary measures often use fear as a means of control. In addition, the “no excuses” model requires a high degree of parent involvement. Trying economic times, combined with the already high poverty level in the urban ring, has created socio-economic conditions that make such requirements difficult to comply with. Achievement First schools may be quality institutions. They may be effective for students and families that can comply with their strict policies and guidelines. The question is, are they appropriate for Providence and will they help Providence move forward as a district? I predict that their impact on the overall achievement of the district would be minimal.
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In 1800, the Rhode Island general assembly passed the Free Schools Act. The law required cities and towns to provide public schools for their citizens. The schools would be funded by the taxes and the city or town councils would have custodial responsibility and authority for the schools. Later, municipalities created and elected school committees to handle the responsibilities of administering the schools. Public funding requires public governance and accountability. I know it sounds a little cliché, but if funding is derived from taxation, then the citizens must have decision-making representation. Achievement First claims that their schools are alternative public schools. What they are is private, corporate-backed alternatives to public schools. They should not be financed by our tax dollars. Achievement First claims that the mayor and members of the community will have decision-making input. This is a clever ploy to placate the critics. Achievement First and the other “big box” charter operators claim that they can replicate or franchise high quality schools. Consequently, all the important decisions regarding curriculum, staffing, pedagogy and student discipline have already been made by their corporate office in Connecticut. The schools will be accountable to their boards of directors and not to the tax payers. The only thing that is “public” about Achievement First schools is their funding source.
In better financial conditions, their application might be considered viable. But today, I find the application unacceptable. The education of its children is a community’s most important responsibility. This responsibility shouldn’t be surrendered, even partially, to corporate interests. All of our community’s funds and energies need to be concentrated on fulfilling this obligation. The cause of reforming public education will not be better served by the division our resources. Furthermore, our education problems will not be solved by a magic bullet cure or by comic book heroes. The needs of our students will be best served by the collaborative efforts of hardworking teachers, administrators, parents and community members. Public education needs to be kept solely in the hands of the public they serve.
Daniel Wall, Cranston parent and Providence teacher
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