There is a built-in elitist arrogance in K-12 education circles. The type in which the offender doesn't even know that he or she is being offensive. This arrogance is based on the "we know what's best for your child" mentality, and more often than not, this line of thinking reveals itself overtly.
Last year, the Superintendent of the Racine Unified School District in Wisconsin, in testifying against school choice expansion in the state said, "[they] don't know how' to make good choices for their children -- they really don't." As demeaning as that statement was, education reformers fall into the same trap when they take the "we are here to save you from yourself" type of attitude while sweeping into town without engaging the community.
Just look at the response to the landmark parent trigger law first passed in California in 2010. This law forces school districts to change a low-performing school's leadership or convert the school to a charter school if 51 percent of the parents sign a petition demanding change. Following California's lead, three other states passed parent trigger laws, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently endorsed the concept. Parents from Compton's McKinley Elementary School were the first to use the parent trigger law. Those low-income parents simply wanted their kids to get a quality education they so rightfully deserved. From the very beginning, traditionalists in the system fought the parents who were demanding change. But since then, in response to other fledgling parent trigger efforts around the country, even so-called reformers are questioning the approach. There are articles abound challenging whether parent trigger can actually improve school districts and opinions as to whether it makes sense to give parents TOO much power.
Why is the education community so fearful of increased parental involvement? Isn't that what we say we want? The answer lies somewhere at the intersection of power and control.
Late last year, while in Alabama speaking with various political, business and community leaders about proposed charter school legislation in that state, I spent considerable time with an elected member of the state education board. After hearing me talk incessantly about the need for parental engagement and school reform, the state education board member said to me, "I'm not sure about that charter school idea or some of the other stuff, but I like the idea of getting parents more engaged and involved. Then they can then start coming to my meetings and assist with some of the other educational reform efforts we have in place."
That well-meaning statement is the consensus of many education reformers when it comes to parental involvement. They want parents involved on their terms -- in ways they can control. Just as many PTA's have historically served as surrogates of the local school district, the real fear about parent trigger, parent revolution and other emerging parent groups is that they can't be controlled. They can't be placed in a neatly potted plant box. They are demanding the right to be seen and heard. And they want to be empowered to fight for what's best for their children -- on their own terms.
Parents do know best. And we in the education world better start acting like it. Yes, there are bad parents that don't serve kids. And yes, there are neighborhoods with more apparent social problems than others. But being poor, in and of itself, doesn't mean you are a bad parent. For many educators, policymakers and reformers, parent engagement has been too much of an afterthought when they work to reform education in this country.
We need to recognize that the only way to achieve impactful and sustained school reform is through meaningful parent engagement. Engagement that leads to true parent empowerment. Parents must be empowered to select high quality school options for their children. And, if necessary, they need to be substantive participants in changing bad schools to good ones. Yes, more parental input means more responsibility, and those parents who have taken the bold step to sign their name to parent trigger petitions have come to this realization. But their activism should be celebrated, not chastised. Just as we celebrate Independence Day this week, we should also celebrate those parents who have decided to take an active role in emancipating their kids from low quality schools. Our schools will never be truly reformed without them.
Follow Kevin P. Chavous on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Kevinpchavous
And the policies you support would actually remove power and influence from parents---and teachers, and students---and hand it over to a small group of private, for-profit interests that have been gunning for our school dollars for a long time.
A year ago, I knew nothing about this scam called "Education" Reform. Now I do. And I'm making sure more parents get the true story here.
We may not have billionaires writing checks for us---as we know that you do---but we have people and something called truth. And we're not going to back down on this. Ever.
You started this fight. We didn't want it. But now that we've been forced into it, we have to do what's right, following the principles of MLK---always in peace and always with absolute non-violence.
Set Bull Connor on us. It will only make us stronger, sir.
No personal disrespect is intended, but it would have been better if you had provided full disclosure to your readers. Why didn't you?
-Why doesn't your bio, or this piece, tell us about the work you've done with Governor Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, which has essentially dismantled public education in that state and handed it over to private, for-profit companies?
-Why didn't you reveal that you have a strong business interest here? Why did you not tell us that you're personally profiting from the "education" reform business? By some accounts you've made over a half million dollars annually for several years now, mainly by flying around the country and staying in deluxe hotel suites, funded by a small group of billionaires?
- Why didn't you tell us that you're a very strong supporter of Michelle Rhee; Scott Walker; John Kasich; Chris Christie and many other far-right, extremists? (Did you think you could fool us because you're a member of that ersatz, billionaire-funded front group entitled, "Democrats" for Education Reform"?
No wonder you're enthused about these stealth strategies to privatize our schools.
There's nothing wrong with making money. We all have to do it. But do you have to exploit children, and attack our schools and our teachers? And at a minimum, can't you at least not claim to do so in the name of "parents"?
"please leave me to my job of teaching"??? Would you leave your pediatrician to his job of doctoring without ANY observation or consideration of your own? Do you not evaluate whether or not a treatment plan benefits your child? Do you not at times go for a 2nd opinion? Do you not go back to your peds office with reports of what IS and IS NOT working for your child? Do not forget, YOUR job of teaching has an impact on the rest of MY child's life! You WILL be evaluated on your course of action and on the results being achieved, as ANY other professional! Get use to it!! GREAT article Kevin P.! And GREAT staement, "Parents do know best. And...the education world better start acting like it."
Instead of "involving" parents by creating an either-or dichotomy between public and charter schools, we need to explore all of the options available. Let's empower parents to vote for candidates who support progressive education reforms, transform their communities through better jobs, environmental conditions, and affordable housing, and partner with teachers and administrators to make decisions about curriculum, classroom management and teacher accountability.
Yes, parents are equipped to make good choices for their kids... in areas where the schools are already doing well, and no change is needed. That's WHY no change is needed.
And yes, being poor doesn't necessarily mean you're a bad parent. But statistically speaking, it means the odds are a lot higher. Some of the reasons for that are probably not your fault, but the REASON you're a bad parent is less important, from the point of view of the damage it does to your kid, than the fact that you are.
So we've got change necessary in the communities surrounding "failing" schools (which are labeled as such mainly because of the community they serve). And those parents in that community are precisely the parents least equipped to effectively lead that change.
That's why "Parent Trigger" laws are such a bad idea. They give more power to precisely those parents who've already proven they shouldn't have it.
Home education can work well, better in fact than in-school education in one Canadian study I read concerning 10 year olds, but it requires great effort on the part of a stay-at-home parent.
Given a challenged school environment, I would either move or home school my kids. As it is, our schools are good - but they were a poor match for our daughter. She turned 15 a few weeks ago and will not be returning to high school. Rather, she is jumping to the University of Washington, where she plans on studying Engineering. 3 of her classmates are also going the the UW.