When_Is_Superman_Coming

When is Superman coming' When watching the movie “Waiting for Superman” I thought of “Lean on me”, which is a 1989 dramatized biographical written by Michael Schiffer, starred Morgan Freeman. Lean on Me is loosely based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life inner city high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, whose school is at risk of being taken over by the New Jersey state government unless students improve their test scores. (Wikipedia) I believe that Joe Louis Clark was the real first Superman. The only thing that matter to him was giving the students the best possible education. He did not let anyone stand in the way, not the parents, the teachers, or the students themselves. By getting rid of the troublemakers, bad teachers, chaining the doors to keep drug dealers out of the school, he made the school safe. Then by getting to know his students and teachers, he set up peer programs (for both students and teachers) to help them learn. Mr. Clark gave his students the world by giving “tough love”. Observing the movie, you get the feeling that everyone is pushing the blame around. Teachers blame the parents or system and versus verse. Many people are saying, “let reform”, but no one knows where to start. With so many issues to work though, such as public education vs. charter schools, decline in test scores, parents involvement, unions, the skill levels of the teachers. Where does one start' With so many students, and as many questions, will we ever be able to keep up with the demands of tomorrow' After viewing the movie, I feel that there are two big problems plaguing our schools today. First, are the teachers, I am not saying they are always the problem, but in some circumstances, they do stand in the way. A teacher’s first purpose is to teach the children. Yes, sometime we do not have the money for new books, equipment, or even pencils. Nevertheless, a good teacher would be able to overcome these issues if they had been train up to the standards. They would have the prerequisites skills to plan to their lesson to have the maxim effect on the children. Be creative enough to turn a paper towel roll in the solar system or something that would help the children learn. Teaching is more than just reading out of a book. You have to want to teach. Second are the teacher unions. Unions are there to protect their workers. In this case, who is there to protect the students from bad teacher. The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become teachers. The NEA has 3.2 million members. The goal of NEA's vision is captured in it is with "building great public schools for every student." (National Education Association) Discouraging merit pay, Discouraging school vouchers and all forms of school competition, and Reforming laws governing charter schools are some of the foucses of the unions. These three issues affect all students in someway. The unions try to take the choice away from the students and their families to have the right to pick the option best for their child. Also, substantial criticism has been leveled against the NEA due the reason of tenure. Which states that to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause. So, this makes termanation of a teacher almost impossible. Which is great for teachers that have earned that right, but what about the others' Or how about the teacher that was doing a great job but then did some unlawful, should he or she still have the right to teach our children' In the film you learn about Jeffery Canada. Who is president and CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone (Which is a charter) in Harlem, New York, an organization which states its goal is to increase high school and college graduation rates among students in Harlem. (Wikipedia) He believe that if you start with the parents before the children is even born, they will have a better chance of going to college. It starts with the Baby College, Pre-Kindergarten, all the way to the College Succes Office. At all levels, the school day is longer as well as the year. There are many after school activites, don’t just sports. They teach the children how to be adults, get jobs, and how to go to college, with help every step of the way and most imporantly is all free. Every charter school is different. Charter schools enrollment is by choice. While these schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not official allowed to charge tuition. Some just offer smaller class, devoted teachers, and longer school days and years. Some aim to have college prep class, some offer general education; teach the arts, mathematics, or vocational training. In one way, that charter schools are just like public school is test scores. Neither school does better or worse the other overall. In the movie, we watch the struggle of five families fight to get the best education for their children. First is Anthony, who lives with his grandparents in Washington D.C. His is trying to get into a boarding school, called SEED with 40 open spots and 792 students applied. Next, is Daisy, who lives in L.A., California with her parents, she is applying to a school that has 35 open spots and 757 applied. Then there is Francisco (Bronx, N.Y.) who lives with his grandmother, and Bianca (Harlem, N.Y.) who lives with her mother, both are applying to the same school, which has an acceptance rate roughly of 35:767. Last is Emily from Redwood City, California. Whom is applying to a school that has a 100:455 acceptance rate. Before any of them can start school, they have to go through a lottery. Since there only a few spots open in each year, charter schools have a lottery. Each child’s name is group by grade. Then the names a draw per number of openings follow by a few more for a waitlist. Even if they selected to start with, there is a small chance that if on the waitlist they will be able to attend later. If funded were to increase or child moves away or is set forth due to grades. To win or not to win, now that is the question. Out of the five families, only two children are accepted. Francisco, Daisy, and Bianca are not so lucky. One must wondering, as a mother myself, what is the next step after losing the lottery' Hope that you are on a waitlist for one. In addition, you would see if there are any other charter schools available in the area, or at least in driving distant. I would consider trying to get a tutor that could help my child after school. On the other hand, if the choice was obtainable, maybe home school. The parents of these children, all go that extra step for their children. Bianca mothers, works just to pays $500.00 month for tuition. Thus, she may go to private school. Anthony’s grandmother is always helping him after school. Emily, mother is influencing her daughter every step of the way. In the movie all, the families are there for their children. Even if they up to get up earlier to drive across town or put them in school that has a dorm. Whereas, Francisco grandmother go the extra miles to get help for him. He is an at risk first grader with trouble reading. His grandmother goes out of her way to make contact with his teacher who never replies. Furthermore, to get more help for him, they get an outside assessment on his skill levels. Which the tester states, he just need more time and help. When you are in the third most overcrowd school there is no way to get the help that one needs. After touring a charter school and talking to the teacher, she feels that the charter would be the better choice for Francisco. I identify the most with Emily. She lives in a nice area with her parents. She is an average student and is involved in sports. Education is also important to her and her family. I lived in small city with my mother, which we had a decent school, honor roll student, and was involved in sports. We both planned to attend college. They have decided that she would go a charter school due to the reason that her school is concerned a “drop out factor”. A dropout factory is a high school where 60% or less of the students who enter the school as freshman graduates. Such schools can be perceived to illustrate the inequality in education systems, since they are often concentrated in low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods. In the United States, roughly one in 10 schools are measured as dropout factories. (Smith) Schools acknowledged as low-performing schools or dropout factories, may and are penalized for failing to educate their students. Rather than identify that a dropout factory needs provisions and support, the government may withdraw funding or other forms of assistance as a penalty, even though the students are the ones who suffer from policies like this. (Smith) Strong leaders are need in these areas, such as superintendents. An individual who has executive oversight and administration rights when dealing with schools. When in charge of the next generation’s education, they need to get the job done. With a long list of pro’s and con’s that need appraisal and revaluated yearly: anything from budgets, to loss of funds, to hiring and firing, restructured state and federal standards, and union contacts. Addition, what I feel is the most important of them all, School Safety. Such as, bullying, unsafe buildings, crime with-in school radius, and subpar teachers. Comparing the last two, what makes the school' Growing up in a poor neighborhood significantly reduces the chances that a child will graduate from high school, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Sociological Review. In addition, the longer a child lives in that kind of neighborhood, the more harmful the impact. (Kilpatrick) This makes you wonder why these schools are located in bad areas. The students are going to school, the most important thing they will ever do, why cannot we keep the area clean, well lite, and safe. Parks, stadium, libraries, and anything a child will use in these 13 years of education, should be available in the area of the school. These positive business and others like them, could keep the crime away. As for the bad neighborhood equals bad school. I fully believe that. If the child’s family feels it unsafe or if education is not important to them, they will keep the kids home, and it will repeat. The family is forever stuck in the cycle, simply because they do not know any better. If children get a good education, chances are they will have a good job, live in a nice area, and have money. Ergo, a new health cycle starts. If every child gets an equal footing in school, more people will have the skills to live a comfortable life, which would lead to less crime. And most of all, a happier life. Works Cited Kilpatrick, Jimmy. Growing Up in Bad Neighborhoods has devastating Impact: Education News. 4 October 11. National Education Association. 31 March 2011. Smith, S.E. WiseQeek: Clear answer for Common Question. n.d. 6 12 2011. Wikipedia. Jeffery Canada. n.d. Wikipedia: lean on me. 30 November 2011.