Every good lawyer knows. You never ask a question without knowing what the answer is. Even so, sometimes, there is no black or white answer, which guarantees you there is no grey area. So you have to be prepared to follow up with a leading question you think you have an answer for, to regain control for your argument.
Truthful when you ask, why public schools are failing in low-income areas, you anticipate the response to be poverty. That’s a black or white answer. However, some charter schools have been very successful in those same areas. Grey. Therefore, the debate over education reform really has no, correct answer; Right.
After talking with Rick Meyer, professor at the University of New Mexico, maybe the grays a little shaded towards white if you annoy the factors that multiply poverty, or fade black if you’re so declined to assume a lack of intellectualism. The nature of our conversation, started with “how could he defend the current state of public schools, he said, “I don’t know, but privatization doesn’t answer the questions.” “The education reform debate has to be framed around poverty in low performing school districts.” “Rather than corporation’s contributing to these community’s economic growth; they divert the conversation into blaming the schools.” He also added that certain things could be done to enhance the system: “If they provide their resources towards helping create employment opportunities, it would help these children define themselves.”
We then discussed the merit of charter schools, and their potential towards expanding into suburban communities, in an effort to create more choices for parents. “Again we want corporation’s investing in public education, especially in areas that need resources, if they decide to invest in other areas, where achievement already exists; it kinds of defeats their purpose for wanting educational reform towards strengthening public education.”
The next topic we touched on was that, “There is no doubt the charter schools or private investment in education have helped, I pointed-out, “Look at the type of success the Harlem Zone school project has created. Meyer said, “Yes, some charter schools do real well, with good dedicated teachers, but when you have the option to choose the students, it lessens their chance for failure, so it’s unfair to compare good charter schools with regular public schools.”
Professor Meyer commented. He feels the public education debate is heading for war, for those who want to privatize to those who want to make changes within the public education system. “I think, and am hopeful, educators and those who care about educating our children, can come together with the interest for all the children.” So, whatever offers the best avenue for adding resources rather than subtracting is the solution. However, with the current situation, we’re draining our resources that already are thin!”
Of all the educators and investors in education in this conversation, we believe Professor Meyer, could lend a level of credibility others lack. He’s taught in the nation’s largest public education school district, New York City Department of Education, and now works with a population that represents the highest drop-outs in the country (Hispanic and Native American). His sense of where we need help helps us on this journey for the truth. Nevertheless, we know the debate doesn’t end here; it just has begun.
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