I had the privilege on Friday of visiting Bronx Success Academy Charter School; a school which is only a few blocks away from mine and serves the same population, but couldn't be more different. From start to finish, the most pervasive thought in my mind wasn't "why can't I work here?", but "why can't every school be like this?"
The overall culture of the school is evident immediately as you walk in the door: words and numbers on the hallway floor provide a print rich environment for the scholars; doors are open, inviting all to come in and observe the scholars learning; each classroom has 2-3 teachers actively engaged with the scholars. It was clear to me while observing the teachers interact with the students, the respect that they had for education and the dedication that they had to helping these students achieve. I observed a teacher in blocks class guide one scholar in a conversation that helped another child in thinking critically about the height of her block tower, which in turn caused her "to revise her plan" for her construction. I witnessed kindergartners discuss and write about civil rights excitedly stating that Marin Luther King, Jr. "didn't care about skin, only the content of a person's character." I watched as teachers instructed small groups of no more than 10 scholars in phonics and guided reading. Teachers, who were responsible for the learning of all students in the school, touted that they were "not classroom teachers, but school teachers." This culture of collaboration, commitment and respect put students first and truly elevated the level of instruction and independent thinking within the school.
At the end of my visit at the school, it occurred to me that I could apply to teach at this school or one of the other schools in the Success network; however, I think that this is one of the problems that is facing public schools. Talented teachers who are discontent with the public school system often leave public schools to teach at high caliber charter schools, private schools or suburban schools, frequently leaving the most needy students with inexperienced, ineffective or complacent teachers. Schools in high poverty neighborhoods are not forced to change because parents can take their children to charter schools and many of the teachers who care leave the schools rather than staying and forcing a change.
I am not arguing against charter schools like Bronx Success Academy; this school and schools like it do an amazing job of educating children. What I am proposing is that EVERY school strive to educate children as effectively as these schools do. One way that this can be achieved is by teachers remaining in public schools and pushing for reform at the school level and for parents fighting for the best education for their children. If we don't fight for the best education for our children, then who will?
