To Whom Much Is Given, Much is Expected
To Whom Much Is Given, Much is Expected
And my back and forth on education in the City of Brotherly Love
Many people have been given a lot. It could be talent, treasure - or both. Someone to love or to love them; intellect or even at the most basic level, a roof over their head. I didn’t come with much, but I’ve been given a lot over time. I think I’ve earned much of it. Then there are the gifts from God - wonderful family and kids, friends, colleagues, and numerous fruits resulting from the labor - people and organizations that have inspired me and fed my drive to do more.
So since much is expected, or as Spiderman would say, “with great power comes great responsibility,” I’m not going to live a life that is nasty, brutish and short. I favor Rousseau and think people are naturally good, with a propensity toward positive relationships. But I’ll admit it’s a challenge to think that way when you read some of the stuff I’ve been reading this week.
But hey, it’s Lent, I’m in a forgiving mood, and much is expected.
It all started here when I found out that Abbott Elementary had once again made inaccurate and disparaging comments about charter schools - and those who support them. Here’s the dialogue:
“Are we positive we don’t want to be a charter school?
“They don’t even require all their teachers be certified.
“Yet they take our funding.
“Not to mention, the private money from the wealthy donors with ulterior motives.”
Twitter was giggling with joy over this “conversation.”
So I jumped in. I said that it’s pathetic that a successful show slams people who help kids succeed, those who start and run those charter schools chief among them.
Then the political writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Chris Brennan buzzed me, interested not in whether I was making a good point about education, but whether I was defending Jeff Yass, one of those wealthy donors Abbott may or may not have been criticizing, who has indeed supported charter schools, district schools, private schools, micro-schools and many more things. To whom much is given, remember?
But no good deed goes unpunished. In the Twitter chain, there is condemnation of rapper Meek Mill, and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin for supporting private and public school choices for poor parents.
My new reporter friend asked me for a comment, but instead of actually quoting what I said, he made my tweet all about defending the man for whom half of the Foundation we run is named, rather than the point that Abbott Elementary is slamming good work. It sells newspapers, I guess.
And he used inaccurate data that makes the condition of Philadelphia schools sound a lot better than they are. The numbers, explained here, are actually quite shocking when you dig in. Here’s the whole back-and-forth with Brennan and a little more spotlight on the subject that has yet to make it into the papers - namely, the educational shackles placed on students in the city where American Independence was born that will give them anything but freedom.
How about this for an Abbott Elementary episode?
The creator, lead writer and co-producer of the show is Quinta Brunson, who hails from West Philly and who attended charter schools her entire education. One might think that would she might credit that education in part with her success.
Meanwhile, the actress who plays a lead role, Sheryl Lee Hughes, is married to a powerful State Senator, Vince Hughes, who has enjoyed the support from state and city teachers unions, and the money of union-aligned PACS throughout the Commonwealth.
It gets better. Mrs. Hughes son went to the exclusive Pilgrim school in Los Angeles at $42,000 a year. And State Senator Hughes' son went to Roman Catholic High school, a great private school that once upon a time was where residents who wanted their kids to succeed went. None of this is mentioned anywhere, of course. Not in the Inquirer, not on TV, not by the producers, nowhere.
The hypocrisy of people who made choices for their own kids but to a national television audience make misleading comments and criticize the choices thousands of other parents make for their kids, particularly when they are stuck in failing schools, is just unacceptable. Now that’s a story!
The City of Brotherly Love?
After the Twitter feed was promoted in the media, those lovely defenders of the status quo started lining up. Here’s just a taste of what I received:
Actually, Dan, yeah I do. I want to take on celebrating and applauding the charter schools, the Catholic schools, the private schools, the after-schools and the occasional innovative public schools that don’t skip a beat for kids. Thousands like me have actually seen these schools work alongside their leaders, read their data, and try to make a positive difference for our most vulnerable. Enlightenment does that. Try it sometime.
More Fairness for Kids
On the good news front, Arkansas just became the third new state to enact comprehensive fairness legislation, coming closer to equalizing education for all students. With $6,600 to spend at the school of their choice, less advantaged students have a leg up on life. Wonder if people will move to Arkansas like they followed educational options to Florida!
One thing is for certain, they are not moving to Philadelphia, which now serves 16,000 fewer children than it did just a few years ago. But still gets the same money. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, as my Mom used to say!
Wishing you sunshine and happiness. Jeanne