What's A Good Liberal To Do? Len Lipkin and Philly School Search
Lots of Philadelphia parents have faced the same dilemma: They want to support public education -- but they're also not that interested in sending their children into the urban hellholes that pass for some of our local schools. Len Lipkin is taking on that issue with a new and increasingly popular blog, Philly School Search. It's exactly what it sounds like: He's trying to figure out where to send his young daughter for her schooling. It's not easy:
My brother and I went to public schools in New York from kindergarten on, and it was a rich experience. We met people of all kinds, though I am still struck by the fact that the friends we became the closest with were so much like us.
For numerous reasons, my family doesn’t feel that our neighborhood school is a good fit. I have a lot of anger that my kid’s neighborhood school is not a choice after having been the kid whose own parents never went on a school trip with me because they were teaching other people’s children. I feel like a good school should be a choice within easy reach and it’s not, really, in so many places in Philadelphia. We are waiting on the lottery to get us into one of the three public schools that we like from afar and that is a scary place to be.
Today he writes about the tensions of "trying to have your cake and eat it too":
The conversations often go something like this. “We love our Philadelphia neighborhood, but we hate our local public school. We believe in public school, just not the public school option available to us here. We can’t afford private schools [or we don't think that they are the best option]. We can’t count on getting into a charter school, so we are [moving/biting the bullet and paying for private school/begrudgingly choosing our local public school].” This last part is usually said with a resigned sigh. One such friend (let’s call him “Steve”) suggested to me the other night that their decision to move to Lower Merion was not about weighing values, it was about their family coming to terms with which values were the most important.
My only advice ... having heard at least a dozen stories like this–don’t make the decision because of what other people are doing or what you read on this blog. Make your choice yourselves because you are the ones that will have to live with it. Don’t simply attend the school that is the path of least resistance. Go to open houses, research your school choices and talk to parents. As parents, be honest with yourselves about what matters most about a school and do what it takes to make those primary values a reality.
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1. Len Lipkin said... on Feb 22, 2010 at 03:00PM
“Thanks for posting this. To clarify, the first section you quote was from an article anonymously submitted by one of our contributors. Though I share many of her frustrations and sentiments, those are not my words. The second quote is mine, though. Thanks for the mention!”
2. Anonymous said... on Feb 23, 2010 at 03:33PM
“I'd like to add some thoughts as people continue to express disappointment in the Philly schools and find alternatives to their local public schools. Perhaps you can’t put your finger on what we could change to make your local feeder school a suitable option for your kid? The answers, you’ll find, are as simple as the day is long: You are what you eat; We reap what we sow.
Yes, it's easy to blame schools or teachers avoid the situation if you can. After all, we must blame someone and you’re only one person, right? Consider this fact though: the VAST majority of kids entering kindergarten in Philly are not well-prepared for our learning expectations; They do not know the ABC's, all the colors, basic shapes, or how to write their full name; They don't know why we put stamps on letters, the four seasons, the days of the week, what their DOB is and how to count to 10! Yeah, you can blame the School District and the teachers - like the crappy leadership at the helm (i.e., see Arl”
3. Anonymous said... on Feb 23, 2010 at 03:35PM
“Ackerman) does, but in reality, we have a HUGE educational gap starting right at home that continues to have a negative achievement gap for years and years and years. So, please don't confuse or automatically assume a "failing school" as the fault of the school or the teachers. Yes, good teacher get burnt out when they don't get the supports and resources they need from bad principals, disengaged/preoccupied parents, a lack of resources/training, etc.. But, they typically work very well with the kids they get who are already way behind in terms of preparedness and help them not fall further behind as time goes on! Most should really be applauded if you think about it. I digress.
Regardless, if you want to see invigorated schools, better public school options in your neighborhood, and schools that have a positive impact on the community at large over the LONG TERM, we should advocate for real positive change that would have obvious, long-term benefits that would PREVENT problems! Who does not think that keeping your employees healthy, engaged and educated doesn’t make for better employee output? We reap what we sow. If you want healthy and more engaged kids, ensure our teachers stay invigorated and engaged.
One simple and cheap option: new schools and schools with the space should have simple, but good workout facilities. Wouldn’t the cost of a few weights and machines be well worth the more energetic, less stressed, and mentally/physically stimulated employees? Not only would staff stay fit and refreshed, but the students would have modeled to them good self-care from an early age. This really wouldn't cost much and would be priceless in terms of results.
Another option: why not have low cost or subsidized daycare on-site for the teachers/staff? We know the struggles of working parents vs. being an actively present mom/dad. Excellent moms/dads make for excellent teachers…let’s keep them teaching! Stressed moms/dads make for less effective educators. Plus, an on-site daycare option for staff would model to the community and students clearly the value the system places on their own family and employees, which would eventually trickle down to a higher personal value the community places on raising and educating their family and children. These are just a couple of ideas that would help "the failing school system" bolster its current resources, model to the community the value we place on our educators, family, self and our own children, and increase achievement from the ground-up.
As Dr. Phil would say, ‘The most effective plan of action doesn’t necessarily cost the most or require much more than good common sense.’ Ackerman's hiring more outside agencies to take over some "failing schools", for example, is just one of many drawing-at-straws ideas that flushes our money down the toilet! As if that hasn't been tried before and didn't work? New lingo with a new agency - sure sounds good, but don't expect anything but the same results and wasted time and money. When the leadership does not bolster the school's teachers, principals, counselors, psychologists, nurses, etc., you don't have to look too hard to see the results. These new “take-over’s” yield the same crappy results, if not worse. But, it sure sounds like something is getting done, doesn’t it??? I digress, again.
Our community leaders and parents need to stay involved in the system (e.g., even if you send your kids to private schools) to help ensure that the good resources we have are treated as valuable commodities...not as a source of blame! You are what you eat. We reap what we sow.
If you want to make schools a place kids love to go to, we have to make it a place we’d all love to go to as well…including teachers, principals, etc.. By and large, the educators do their jobs and do it very well - especially given the daily stressful circumstances they face and the mind-numbing minutia of stale, prescribed curriculums that are near void of arts, vocational, and enrichment activities. But those issues can be tackled down the road. More importantly at this juncture, if you're planning to increase excellent public schools options for our kids, invigorating stale or depressed communities, and end the entrance of kids with marginal school preparedness, we better start implementing sound PREVENTIVE and systemic strategies, NOT BANDAIDS that covers-up, perpetuate or ignore the real issues! We are what we eat. We reap what we sow. We get out of it what we put into it.
”
4. Anonymous said... on Feb 27, 2010 at 08:17PM
“We are a family were both parents are educators- my husband is actually a teacher in a philly public school. When faced with the decision of public schools in our Mt Airy neighborhood (which we absolutely adored living in), we chose to move to the burbs rather than gamble on a chance of getting into a charter school. In our minds, the public school option was just not really on the table. (Especially because my husband has had years of teaching experience in public schools in philly). We looked into private school and there were many excellent choices, but far too expensive. So, we moved. We moved and three years later, we still miss our old neighborhood dearly. We hate being that cliche, but felt we were not left with many other options.”
5. Anonymous said... on Dec 26, 2010 at 12:02PM
“I am a senior at Cheltenham High School. If you have never heard of it, it is right out of Philadelphia. As far as diversity, it is what I believe most parents should be looking for as far as education. Although the Cheltenham area for the past couple decades has been primarily Jewish, over the past ten years, it has become extremely diverse. We have a large majority of Black and Jewish students. The school is balanced by the No Place For Hate policy and as my schooling is coming to an end, I've realized that my beliefs have adapted purely based on my environment. I look at life with my eyes wide open and it's because of Cheltenham that I've been able to do this. Everyone just really gets along. There is no "in" crowd, people from all groups (musical, intellectual, athletic) get along and it's because of this, that I want help. I want kids to go to school every day and be able to become inspired both intellectually and educationally from their community. Please help me with my project.”