I didn't write this...It comes from something emailed to me, but it is something to think about...Observe the illustration above and tell me what you think?
"There is no evidence to suggest that school closures work. Despite what policymakers say to justify these mass closures, reports have shown that the majority of students who are affected do not get placed in high performing schools. And though closures are often touted as a way for districts to save money in tough economic times, those savings often fail to materialize and can in reality cost taxpayers millions in hidden costs." -Philadelphia School Union Website.
Mass school closings have become a hallmark of today's dominant education policy agenda. But rather than helping students, these closures disrupt whole communities. And as U.S. Department of Education data suggests, the most recent rounds of mass closings in Chicago, New York City and this city,Philadelphia disproportionately hurt Black and low-income students.
See a pattern here? Hmmmmmm!
I don't want to just present a problem with no solutions...Here are some viable alternatives-
What is the alternative to closing schools? Evidence-based policies that provide students, schools and communities with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed, including:
- Wraparound academic, health and social services to help struggling students get back on track
- Recruiting, training and retaining high-quality teachers in every classroom
- Equitable school funding systems so that those who face the toughest hurdles receive the greatest resources
- Universal high-quality pre-K so that all students start school ready to learn
- Expanded learning time, including after-school and summer programming
- Turning schools into community hubs that provide expanded services to both students and community members
Here are just a few of the many groups organizing against school closures in the cities highlighted in the infographic. If your organization is doing anti-closures work, let us know and we'll add it!
- Chicago: Kenwood Oakland Community Organization
- New York: Coalition for Educational Justice
- Philadelphia: Philadelphia Student Union
- National: Journey for Justice
3 comments:
In all 3 of these places, at least 73% of all students are "low income"... America is a slave colony. People, y'all need new leadership... remade from the ground-up. Daunting task, yes, but maintaining the status quo will cost honest hardworking americans far more than change will.
Is there any benefit to all of this? It's not like a factory closing down and everyone is now unemployed. It's still mandatory for children to attend school. They will still be going to school. I realize the Devil has its hands at work here trying to make money from all of this... But aren't these schools being selected due to very poor cost/success ratios? As usual, all these statistics are based on race. Thereby deflecting the more specific reason why they are being selected. I've been to Philly too many times. I was born and raised in Reading. I KNOW how awful and rundown these schools are. Something desperately needs to be done, no doubt. But in the moment... Wouldn't the poorest schools being closed, and the students being absorbed into better schools be an ideal thing to happen?
And that elected officials want to send more taxpayer money to private schools in the way of vouchers instead of working to improve the public schools---------what does that say about them?????
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