The Miracle That Never Was – More Bad News for New Orleans School Children
Photograph; Fourth graders raise their hands to answer a question posed by teacher Cheryl Mackie while studying in preparation for the LEAP Test at Westwego Elementary School in March 2009. | Susan Poag / The Times-Picayune
There are Miracles that never were and those that flourish unabated. Who could have predicted that a country founded in democracy and freedom of information might deny its children an excellent, exceptional, and public education? Surely, Thomas Jefferson did not think this our mission. In a letter penned to George Wythe, on 13 August 1786 Jefferson exclaimed, “Preach, my dear Sir, a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people.” Our forefathers did not think that ultimately “the people” would allow their “leaders” to redirect public funds to a Charter School education. But with a turn of phrase and a bit of persuasion countless were sold the idea that Charter Schools offered a better “public” education. But Miracle upon miracle Americans forfeited their vision. Perhaps, we became obsessed with the fear of failing.
A decade ago, an entire School District was defamed. New Orleans schools and students were characterized as products of a flawed system. Then Hurricane Katrina hit. This was seen as an opportunity, an opportunity to make a drastic change. And so we did. Encouraged or persuaded the people trusted a novel claim. “Education Reformers” said, a fully privatized [Charter School] District will be a win. The tacit understanding is “Come with us good people;” let us take a “LEAP” of faith. And in New Orleans we did. We leapt, perhaps before we looked, and possibly in the wrong direction. Now it is time to ask, are our children doing better?
By Raynard Sanders, Ed.D. | Originally Published at EmpathyEducates. September 28, 2014Charles Hatfield of Research on Reforms recently released his analysis of the 2014 LEAP results in Math and English language arts. “The Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) test is the series of annual assessments in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies in 4th and 8th grades.” It is Louisiana’s state mandated test taken by all the public schools to determine student and school district’s academic progress.
Once again the results are not promising for the Recovery School District of New Orleans. The Recovery School District of New Orleans labeled by education reformers as the national model of turning around empathyeducates – The Miracle That Never Was – More Bad News for New Orleans School Children: