Friday, February 05, 2010

Obama Continues The Myth

Last year I wrote an article about why I believe inner-city schools score more poorly than their suburban counterparts. In the article, I referenced President Bush who said he wanted to "liberate poor children trapped in failing public schools".

Now, a year later, I find President Obama is continuing to spread the ill-conceived notion that inner city schools are to blame for the educational outcomes of the kids they serve. In his state of the union address, President Obama declared that he wanted to turn "around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans!"

Stealing the future of young Americans?!! Gee, I didn't realize that was what I was doing!

As one who has taught both the wealthy and the poor, I can testify that the inner-city teachers of America's schools are not stealing anything from anybody. They pour their lives daily into children who have every disadvantage. They work hard against incredible odds, trying to beat a system that is designed to work against them. Many of the kids they serve are dealing with constant chaos at home, where their studies are not even considered. These teachers often work in communities that do not know how to support them, with legislators who are hostile to them, and with a president who insults them.

Yet when the kids walk in the classroom door, some who have been wearing the same clothes all week, they set all those realities aside and smile. Today, the teacher will again teach all that he or she can.

3 comments:

Don said...

Great comment and great truth. I had very similar experiences in my 34 years of public education. Kudos to you, my friend.

Tit for Tat said...

Its so much easier to put the blame elsewhere, rather than have people take a hard look in the mirror. PC running wild.

Chad said...

Another great post by my friend! After spending 1 1/2 years working and living in the inner city and getting to know the youth and the teachers at the schools, I can't agree with you more. Keep up the fight Andrew, the problem isn't the schools it's the homes and I would even say it's the exploitation of the workers by the employers. Some of these parents work 2-3 jobs just to take care of necessities. (I'm not even getting into the issues of generational poverty)

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