A new school year has always been an occasion for hope and optimism. Newly decorated classrooms welcome children with the promise of learning new things and making new friends.
With school bands and drumlines playing behind them, politicians and district administrators rang the bell on the first day of school this week. Joy was in the air, as it should be every day. One parent organization, in fact, is advocating for a “joy-based curriculum” and has asked Superintendent Tony Watlington to appoint a Director of Joy.
That may sound a little warm and fuzzy, but if children don’t deserve joy, then who does?
Many of those who attended last week’s Board of Education meeting, on the other hand, might have felt their joy dissipating as they listened in vain for any encouraging words from the members of the board. With the exception of President Reginald Streater presiding, the seven members present said virtually nothing during the two-hour meeting. The four new members, who took office in May after being appointed by Mayor Cherell Parker, have yet to address themselves to members of the public about their vision for the future of the district they now govern. Not one board member had a question or comment about approving 5-year, multi-million dollar renewals for three charters who had all failed to meet academic standards. No board member questioned the necessity of spending $31.6 million on a new Science curriculum, after having recently purchased costly new Math and Reading curricula, when the district has a fully staffed curriculum department. Only one of the seven members present had a question for Superintendent Tony Watlington after his extensive presentation on matters including teacher recruitment, extended-day and -year programs, and new tutoring programs. The board’s one roll-call vote on 35 items, which took just over a minute, approved over $79 million in spending–without one word of deliberation.
Most troubling: not one board member responded to any of the parents, educators or community members who raised crucial issues in their public testimony. Parents from two West Philadelphia schools wanted more time to reconsider their partnership with Drexel University before the board voted. Several community members renewed their requests for more funding for improving air quality in classrooms. A number of people returned to ask why the district was doing little to address the censorship of student projects on the crisis in Palestine and the harassment of their teachers.
How did we end up with a board that has nothing to say to the public? In short, by making sure that the public has nothing to say about who is on the board. Philadelphians remain disenfranchised, unlike other Pennsylvanians, when choosing their school board. The mayor’s Nominating Panel met in secret and took no public testimony.
City Council’s confirmation was less than enlightening about the backgrounds and visions of the nominees.
Parents, educators and community members have a right to know how the school board is going to provide the best education for the city’s children. In other words, how will the board–which claims to be “child-centered”–make school a joyful place?
Their constituents have told them in meeting after meeting: bring back school librarians; cut back on standardized testing and test prep; offer more creative electives; hire more classroom aides and support staff; lower class size.
There are some hopeful signs. The new Cassidy Elementary in Overbrook has opened, in a beautiful new building with a library. The district has met with library advocates and has, for the first time in years, appointed a director of libraries. Superintendent Watlington vowed to end the disruptive practice of leveling. More children will have access to tutoring and extra-curricular activities.
Six years ago, when the Board of Education was reinstated after the disbanding of the School Reform Commission, they promised to open up a dialogue with the community. How joyful it will be when that finally happens.
Lisa Haver is a former Philadelphia teacher. She is co-founder and coordinator of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools.
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