About sixty Plainfielders took seats in the new Emerson Community School's sparkling auditorium Wednesday evening, thinking they would hear about the changes in funding facing the Abbott districts, of which Plainfield is one.
Gordon MacInnes, who oversaw the Abbotts for the state for a number of years, gave an overview of forty years' efforts and ideas about overcoming the -- demonstrable -- achievement gap between students in poor and middle-class school districts.
While generally praising New Jersey's Supreme Court for putting the state at the forefront of attacking the problem, he was highly critical of their efforts to intervene at a level of particularity where he felt they had no expertise, and that as a result their rulings had unanticipated and unfortunate consequences.
Particularly scathing were his assessment of the attempt to dictate 'whole school reform' and what he termed the major defect of the 'Success for All' model developed by Johns Hopkins University, which he said shortchanged literacy. This defect left the program unable to gear students up for New Jersey's statewide achievement tests, in which reading skills count heavily.
MacInnes thought that the most encouraging recent signs were the mandating of 'quality' preschool for New Jersey children from age 3, with an emphasis on building early literacy skills and small class sizes.
Dr. Steve Gallon, Plainfield's new superintendent of schools, delivered a forceful and thoughtful address in which he contrasted what he considered THE educational problem of the 20th century -- 'the color line' -- with that which we now face, which is 'not one of race and ethnicity, but an issue of class, about rich and poor'.
The two mostly reinforced each other, and played pretty good ball together, considering it was a pickup game.
However, Dr. Gallon did bring up a matter that intrigued me greatly: the so-called '4th Grade Syndrome', where kids' achievements begin to drop off notably.
He seemed to suggest that it occurred across the entire spectrum, which left me wondering how come middle-class schools then seem to overcome it, since the data clearly show a performance gap opens that never really is closed.
However, the question-and-answer period showed that many had other things on their mind: Charter Schools.
That turned out to be the 'tiger in the tank' for the evening.
The questions from the floor became somewhat feisty, but were deftly handled by Gallon and MacInnes, mostly without turning the emotional heat up.
Dr. Gallon drew comparisons to the Florida experience -- where the Charter Schools are overseen by the local BOE -- which differs greatly from the New Jersey model. And at one point, he erred in saying that 'all' of the state allocation for a child is set aside for the Charter School once the state grants the charter and the number of slots for each CS.
To his extreme credit, though, he refused to allow the matter of parents choosing Charter Schools to be described as 'siphoning off' students, as was stated by Dottie Gutenkauf, instead insisting it was the task of the District to create a situation where parents and students would choose the District's schools over alternatives.
Sensing that Pandora's box had been opened, Plainfield LWV president Herb Green, who moderated the event, suggested that -- with his Board's approval -- he would like to schedule at least one more forum on schools policy. I think that is an excellent idea, and clearly there is great interest -- and some confusion -- on the matter of Charter Schools, their funding and their role.
Those of us who thought that we were going to be engaged in a discussion of Gov. Corzine's attempt, through legislation, to amend the school funding formula and set aside the Abbotts will have to wait for another time.
League member Annie Stocks closed the meeting by calling attention to the fact that it was Herb Green's 84th birthday, to which attendees responded with a standing ovation.
Keep up the good work, Herb!
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3 comments:
The only issue I have with the "Abbott" school issue is that you still have cities like Hoboken & Jersey City included in the formula. These are just 2 glaring examples of successful multi-billion dollar real estate rich cities that for some reason have not been bumped out of the system. Any system that doesn't have a way to review to either remove or even add school systems is flawed from the onset..as our dear Abbott system is unfortunately.
Bill Strickland from Pittsburg, Pa, has created a model for educational success in urban/poorer communities. He believes by creating an environment conducive to learning and finding and developing a passion in the child they will become succesful adults. His program is working thorughout America. With that I'm saddened when I think of the lousy conditions that many Plainfield children are asked to thrive in. Shame on the politicans who have turned a blind eye on enforcing quality of life issues in Plainfield. Children don't ask for much. Just give them an empowering environment and watch them blossom.
Thank you Dan for your comprehensive post on Abbott. Jerry Green has seen fit to write his own response to the education forum and in the process, has revealed himself once again to be are one of the dumbest donkeys ever to disgrace the legislative offices of New Jersey. What is especially scary in his posting about Abbott is when he writes "It is my understanding that the public school system here in Plainfield has closed the gap in terms of educating our children." What does he mean?? Is he kidding??? He also along with HIS mayor one of the biggest embarrassments in Plainfield. Luckily, the only people who read his silly defensive blog are those of us who want to have a laugh. Everyone knows what he did regarding selling us out regarding Abbott, and his attempts to blame you are pathetic. I know that you are capable of defedning yourself, Dan, but Green is really ridiculous. Everytime he posts one of these idiotic rants, he looks like a fool. I am ashamed to say it, but I used to support him, but no longer. He and that mayor of his have made Plainfield into a laughing stock. God bless Herb Green and the League of women Voter for having this forum. Green never called a forum to explain himself and his actions, so it's sad that he wants to blame community activists for trying to let the people know what is going on.
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