Missing from reform debate: The power of caring
This was written by Dorothy Stoneman, founder and president of YouthBuild USA, a youth and community development program that addresses core issues facing low-income communities: housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.There are 273 YouthBuild programs in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the Virgin Islands. By Dorothy Stoneman So far, I find the public discussion about “Waiting for Superman” missing the fundamental question: What makes for a great school where students feel safe, cared about, and eager to learn? We are woefully off the mark when the conversation is all about superintendents and principals needing power to fire inept teachers and not about using their power to create a caring, learning community. The morning after seeing the movie, I asked students at Washington DC’s YouthBuild Charter School: “Somehow your regular public high schools didn’t work for you and you left. Why is this school working for you?”