"Waiting for Superman"

Today my boys' principal showed the documentary "Waiting for Superman" for parents to come watch together and then have a discussion with our teachers. I had seen the movie a few weeks ago and was very moved by its material. It was even more eye opening to watch a second time and listen to educators share their opinions and answer our (parents) questions about the educational crisis in America.

The most important thing I gained out of the experience was a realization that my family is in the small percentage of very fortunate American families who are able to send their children to a wonderful school with excellent teachers. It made me so sad though to watch the statistics and listen to the stories of so many families around our country who don't have that option to choose a 'better' school then they might be zoned for.

My boys don't go to a private, magnet or charter school but they were able to get into a 'university' school that is based on your child's birthday on a list. And we made a decision for our oldest to repeat kindergarten to get into the school like half the other kids in the school. We made that choice based on other things about our son but knowing that the advantages he would have at the small school made it worth the decision to repeat a year in the end. I understand after watching the movie that MOST children don't have a chance to get into one of these type schools and so they are stuck with their failing school.

It was very interesting to hear our teachers' perspectives on tenure, "bad teachers", teaching in high risk/inner city schools, state regulations/legislation on educators, etc. But after much discussion on our thoughts about the documentary we pretty much all agreed that it isn't really the teachers' fault in the end...its' parents/society that has gotten us in this mess.

The schools that do so well? They are the ones that have 100% parental participation. The parents are held accountable for being involved both at home with their children but also at school. There is expected communication between the teacher and parents, homework is expected to be completed, parents are in the school volunteering or helping out with extra programs or at meetings with teachers.

But at public schools, which is where my kids attend, you can't do that. You can't make the parents get involved. You can't hold the parents responsible for reading to their children or meeting their teachers or coming to a PTO meeting. And so it is left up to our teachers to take what they get each morning with all 20 or more children and start from there...make sure they are fed, clothed, have slept, deal with their trauma from home, dysfunctional tendencies, family dramas, fears, then start teaching these kids something. It is overwhelming for them. I have a lot more sympathy for them now.

Teaching isn't the same career choice that it once was. It isn't the 'easy' family friendly profession you choose so you can have Christmas and Summer breaks and go home at 3:30. These professionals have more paperwork, test scores, data, professional development training throughout the year and into the summer, as well as the technology advances they must keep up with and use in their classrooms then ever before.

And yes, just like the documentary, there are BAD teachers. And they are to blame for A LOT of students' failure in our schools! I had a few bad teachers in my own high school and know how tenure kept them from being touched...along with a principal who didn't pursue making them do anything! But there are two sides to this debate and many ways to look at the mess our educational system is in.

It is always stimulating to learn and be a part of a discussion where ideas are shared and views are challenged. And I am very, very appreciative and blessed to have my family at a good school I now realize more than ever.

I challenge you to watch the documentary...perhaps watch it with a group of fellow parents and educators for a lively discussion afterwards. We need to have a voice in our children's future and our voices won't be heard or carry any weight unless we know what we are fighting for.