Students Have Spoken: Will You Listen?
School Works Results 2013-14.
In my 35 years in education I've never seen a group of students lecturing the adults as to what is needed in our schools. The students were bright, articulate, much better speakers than most adults and clear in their intent. They stated their schools are not welcoming, encouraging or supportive. And if you are in a school that has a majority of its students who are of color, in poverty or have special needs (aptly named "the most vulnerable schools"), than the school is less welcoming, less encouraging and less supportive.
That was their opinion. The question was whether this was indeed the case. How did they get this information? Some background will help.
A+ Schools is a non-profit independent Pittsburgh public school advocacy group. "Since 2004, A+ has served as a community force advancing the highest educational achievement for every student in Pittsburgh Public Schools." In particular, their focus is on educational equity, eliminating the achievement gap and helping all students have success upon graduation. I would suggest they see the mission of public schools is to act as a PUMP, not a FILTER.
The event I attended was a confluence of two A+ Schools initiatives, School Works and TeenBloc.
"Launched in 2009, School Works is a community action research program sponsored by A+ Schools that uses teams of trained volunteers to interview school staff and collect data on staffing, training, coursework, support services, resources and learning opportunities for Pittsburgh students. School Works is modeled after the successful Ready Schools Project conducted by D.C. Voice in Washington, D.C."
In 2013 the TeenBloc leaders brought together over 80 student leaders from Pittsburgh high schools in a serie of workshops and focus groups. This group developed a Student Bill of Rights (SBR) as a response to their collective concern with the state of their high schools."TeenBloc (formerly known as Students Engaged in Leadership) is a coalition of student leaders and organizers in Pittsburgh’s high schools whose purpose is to raise the student voice and create positive change in Pittsburgh Public Schools."
Pittsburgh Student Bill of Rights
- Right to free expression
- Right to participate in decisions that affect our education
- Right to equitable academic resources
- Right to a socially, emotionally, and physically safe and positive school climate
- Right to inclusive teaching and learning environments in our classrooms
- Right to be treated with respect and dignity by the school community
- Right to effective teachers
- Right to positive school disciplinary policies and practices
- Right to equitable access to accelerated classes and academic counseling
- Right to efficient transportation
The leaders at A+ Schools wanted to give student perceptions a voice, to identify practices and policies that could advance the Bill of Rights, and to bolster the demand for the SBR. So they decided to use their 2013-14 School Works data collection for this purpose.
Two methods of data collection occurred.
First, 16 Teenbloc students administered anonymous, volunteer 60 question surveys to over 500 11th graders representing all of the city high schools. The population surveyed was demographically and geographically balanced. The survey was developed by the TeenBloc students under the guidance of A+ School researchers.
Second, 73 trained adult volunteers interviewed 26 staff members from the city high schools. The 45 minute interviews included 50 questions that elicited adult perspectives on issues addressed in the Student Bill of Rights.
The School Works report is now available from A+ Schools. The executive summary of the report states:
"The trends are troubling and point to large inequities in our high schools. Students in our most vulnerable schools more often report violation of the basic rights embodied in the Student Bill of Rights. And often, the adults in the building agree with student assessments of school climate."Frankly, the report is damning. Consider this... 60 years since the Brown vs. Board of Education decision that outlawed "separate but equal" in education; 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; 44 years since the Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education decision that allowed busing as a method of integration; our children must create a bill of rights that asks the adults for safe supportive schools, good teachers, equitable resources, access to advanced classes and counseling. During the event, using texting technology, the speakers were able to survey the audience as to which 2 of the 10 rights in the SBR were the most important. By a large number, the two that were chosen were Right 4 pertaining to safe and supportive school climate and Right 7 pertaining to effective teachers. No surprise. And frankly, not too much to ask.
So let's return to yesterday's event. Where do the students go from here? The students will present the results to the school board in May and the board will vote in June as to whether they will incorporate the SBR into the district's Student Code of Conduct. I'm guessing they will approve the change because it is politically correct. How can you argue with safe, equitable, quality schools? Then what will happen? Nothing.
The students spoke with passion and resolve. The A+ Schools director and researcher spoke with commitment. But here's the part that worried me. It was the non-parent adults in the room. The dignitaries included current school board members who had long careers as educators in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, an ex-director of the NAACP, the news media, the district Superintendent. There were directors of non-profits that work with the district. Members of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, of Great Schools Pittsburgh and Yinzercation were in the audience. They all say the right things, all swear to the need for equity, all believe that we just need to work harder to fix the current system. They all want more money and blame Harrisburg convinced that money will solve the problem. Money is not the issue. Culture is the issue. The system is broke, not financially, spiritually. And the dignitaries were in charge of our school system as it evolved into this monstrosity.
What the students are asking for is a change in the culture of schools. They are asking for a different education... taught by caring individuals who believe and act in a manner that helps all students achieve and who understand the culture of their students... a different Pittsburgh... a different America. In this blog, I'm not talking about a fix, I'm talking about creating new schools based on proven success in urban settings. And I don't care who creates the good schools - the District, charters or privates. Just like the students, I simply want good schools for all students.
As I was leaving the event, a number of my students from City High came up to me. We talked about how their schooling is going, their post high school plans and how much we missed each other. We talked about the next steps for the Student Bill of Rights. They were brimming with optimism and hope. I pushed them to consider their next move after the SBR is passed. How can they engage more students? How can they continue to point out inequities that are stopping them from achieving? How can they apply more pressure for change? They are the voice of the future. I warned them not to trust the adults or what they say or promise. Trust the data and what they see with their own two eyes. Their engagement in this process is one of the few honest, sincere initiatives that is occurring in Pittsburgh education. Students, be the PUMP.
