I watched the 2010 documentary, "Waiting for Superman" today. It was written to shed light on our failing public school system. It highlighted several students and their families all over the country who were seeking opportunities for success outside the neighborhood school and were trying to get accepted into charter schools. The only way to get in is to win in a lottery-style selection process. Some schools have over 700 applicants for only 40 spaces. It was so hard to watch. All those families begging for a school that works!!!
Here are some quotes I took from the movie:
What works? (in reference with the enormous success of RIPP charter schools that are popping up all over)
quality teachers
more classroom time
world class standards
high expectations
real accountability
(In reference to the broken system) - the problem is complex, the steps are simple.
starts with teachers becoming the very best
leaders removing the barriers to change
neighbors committed to their school
you willing to act
Great schools won't come from winning the lottery, they won't come from "Superman", they will come from you.
I recommend checking out the movie! I found some parts eye-opening to say the least.
I agree that the documentary was hard to watch at times but points out how much the system has failed our kids and society. Washington's answer is always to through more money at the problem which at an average of $13,000 per year per child would be better served by giving that money to each family and allowing them to spend on any school of choice. It also highlights the need to break the stranglehold of the educator's unions who block any attempts at true education reform for the sake of bloated pensions and benefits with No performance accountability.
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