There's No Place Like..... School?

There's No Place Like School
(or....How bad schools become "better.")

According to a 2013 ABC News program, there is a list of bad ...( no, "dangerous,") schools.  One school identified and promoted in the media as one of the most "dangerous schools" in the nation is called Strawberry Mansion and it is located in Pennsylvania.  The story of this school and the programs aired about it, are thought provoking.  It will not only cause you to brainstorm a little about hoe to make our free public education better, but highlight your appreciation for educating in freedom and in homeschooling your own children in freedom too.

In 2012, Diane Sawyer first  visited the Strawberry Mansion Hugh School to investigate the dangerous aspect of it all.  Six months later, her expose' of the school later aired on national television, showing the world what it was like to be a part of one of "the most dangerous schools."  There were security guards and cameras everywhere as a preventative to the violence.  Fistfights, switchblade attacks between students, arson incidents in the building, arguments, and a lot of down-and-out bad behavior was the norm and much of this was actually caught on film.  There were people fighting in plain sight (with the video cameras rolling.)  It was a sight that was so painful to see taking place in the school for young people ages 14-18, that one might be tempted to wonder if any of it was staged.  Strawberry Mansion, a dangerous school, had six months to prove itself or they would face being closed.

Surely being a student, teacher or simply working in an office in this kind of environment would be challenging, but Linda Wayman, principal, and staff took it to task.

So, what does a person do when they work in that kind of an environment?  How do they prepare for the workday when they have no idea just how dangerous it will be?  As we see on the TV, Strawberry Mansion was so dangerous that security guards begin the school/work day with Christian prayer.

"...in your name, Amen"

 Yes, that's right....  the Public School work force, evidently fearing the worse are shown on camera, praying to God, asking that the children be kept safe that day in school.

So much for "prayer in school" being  unconstitutional.

 If you have not already, watch the ABC News program here.  One has a lot to think about after watching a news program like this.

That prayer, for example, was it just for the cameras or is it something those men really do every day?  How much theatrics, you might wonder, are involved, don;t they know they are going to be on national TV?  Maternal and paternal concerns are stirred as you are watching, emotions are evoked.  However, in addition to any feeling you are having, it's sensible to really think about what you hear and see. There has to be more than just a casual understanding about what is presented.

One boy from the school is interviewed in his home, and this with no parent present.  It would appear that the camera crew just followed the kid to his home after school and he let them in.  Food is cooking next to his television set on a single burner, his clothes are said to be in plastic trash bags stored in the corner of the room. He tells us that he is the only man in the house as the camera shows him sweeping the floors... did he do that on his own, or did the director decide that it would be good footage if he did. Not only is the parent's view of this dangerous school glaringly absent, they are not at home when the camera crew arrives to film the student in his private life at home.  Is this more proof of a lack of parental involvement we are told is seen at the school?

They filmed parent-teacher conference time and one teacher informs us that he had only one parent, in two days, come to his conferences.  One parent who did come, is shown reprimanding his daughter who had previously been introduced to us as a hardworking student.  He tells her that her grades need to improve and she has to work harder.  We witness hims scolding his daughter, pushing her away from himself while we are taught that the wonderful school principal loves and cares about the kids.

"There's no place like school."

There's No Place like School  Part 2

Months passed and then ABC News did an update on the school status for closure and checked up on some of  the people featured in their report.  In the update, they inform us that the school is not closing and that it is also no longer one of the most dangerous schools in America.  There had been improvement.  This was partially attributed to the viewers of Diane Sawyer's report, and she let us all know that what we here witnessed was proof of how, "Generosity can change lives."

Because of the generosity of viewers, several students had received full scholarships to college.  Not only that, viewers, via their donations, were credited for making sure that, "the school had basic necessities... like books, calculators and notebooks."  (As if they had none of these things before provided by the school.)

The school kids were able to be provided with uniforms to wear everyday, and we were told that this was something "requested," not by parents or teaching staff, but by the students themselves.  (Studens we not just in on the decision, they thought of it themselves?) ...And because of viewers generosity, Strawberry Mansion was able to start their own high school football team. We were also told that the team was so great that they went undefeated for the first year.

But the really big news, the big reward from viewers came, when Grammy award winning, Hip Hop artist, Drake, made a surprise appearance at the school to the kids.  He gave a concert. and then donated a lot of money so that the school could have their own recording studio.   These youngsters now have Drake as their role model and school "hero" because, after all, he has taken a personal interest in the school and given the public school a lot of money.  He's gain popularity, probably even boosted his own record sales along the way.

Public schools, paid for collectively by taxed dollars from citizens, are instituted so that no one has to suffer in ignorance, so all will be able to to read and write and manage financial affairs.  However, over the years, public education has become quite a lucrative business venture for some.  They are not just a place to learn to read and write.  They are tax shelters, "markets" for products, advertising, various aspects of scientific research, and all sorts of financial gain.  For some their income. is based on the school system,   The school system has it's share of proponents.  It not only puts bread on tables, but offers power and control.

It has been said, " hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."

One message in the film was that parents of low income families don't care too much about their kids.  They are apathetic.  They do not go to parent teacher conferences, or adequately provide things like dressers for their kids to store their clothes.  They cook food in one pot, and their kids have to see how other people live on TV way different than them.  Principals and teachers, on the other hand, love and care  and love children, much mush more than those parents of  low income kids.

If parents do care, then, like the man in the segment talking to his daughter exampled for us, they are supposed to support the school... apparently, no matter how violent the school day is.  Like him, they should send kids to school to learn like he does.  They should side with the school and push kids to do well in whatever environment there is.. grade school, middle school, high school, then on to college, because otherwise there is simply no hope.  The message is, as Linda Wayman told the young man who told her he didn't "like school,"  "You have two choices: school or prison."

Look carefully at the school lunchroom in the video.  Look at the hallways and the video monitoring of everything... the security guards.  Is there a difference between prison and public school?

From watching this Nightline program was are learning too that if we want really "good" public, (government funded and managed) schools, then we need to redefine them as charitable organizations.
Then, when we do this, great people with money, like Drake, like Bill Gates.... for example, will drive and define for us what good quality education looks like, with recording studios for all... and computers.  Money... and "your generosity" with it, will be the thing to make our public schools better, and not only that, but money will solve all the problems that arise in life.

Money?

Let's set the record straight...

First of all, parents, even parents of low income families, do love their children.  Some teachers and principals may care about, even love some of their students, but certainly not like a mom or dad does naturally.  Parent teacher conferences are not a measure of parental care or concern about their child.  In fact when a parent works to make ends meet they do not always have the time to attend a meeting scheduled by the school.  Parents also may simply avoid the meeting for fear of being judged over their low income status or inability to speak English, if that is a difficulty for them.  In high school, one public school science teacher can easily have 150 students or more; how do you schedule that?

Also, by the time a student is in high school they are fairly independent, both at home and in their studies. At school they take heed from counselors and even make visits to the school nurse when they have a health concern, often instead of talking to mom and dad, and this without the school conferencing with parents.  Parent teacher conferences are great... ideal in many circumstances, and maybe even necessary to help with behavioral corrections in a public school.  They do give an opportunity for the teacher to meet the parents, but certainly attending or not attending a conference often long after school has already started, is not a measurement of a parents concern or lack of concern for their own kids.  In fact, concerned parents seldom wait for a parent teacher conference.   They introduce themselves to teachers when the school year begins.

There's a lot of things that make for a good educational experience.  It's a bit heartwarming to hear that Strawberry Mansion is not longer labeled a "dangerous school.  How a "dangerous school" can still provide an adequate learning environment is baffling.  Good thing they were able to get this school of that list.

It is haunting to hear of "dangerous schools"  It's also sad to think that what really drives a lot of public education,  as well as parent's choices in educating youth  is the money factor.  We see this not only in the public school sector but in the would-be homeschooling communities as well.

For those who want to improve public education, it is time to put first things first into our children's lives.  Love goes a long way.  If your kids are in public school, remember, it's your school.  YOU, not school, not the teacher, will be the one to look out for the best interest of your child.   School teachers are public servants;  teachers in the school are there to work for you while they receive a paycheck from government funds.  The schools work for you, send a report card to you, not the other way around.

If you are home educating, hey, if this school can do it, (and be considered "dangerous" for kids to attend... so can you.  You kids are probably quite safe in your loving parental care.  Trust your natural instincts to train uo your child in the way he or she should go.... and love your kids, not for how high their test score is, or what they can accomplish, but for who they are.  When it comes to developing a love for life and a love for learning, for being truly educated about the world,  let's face it, there really is no place like.... home.