America’s school systems are failing to meet the needs of the children that need them so much.
“Waiting for ‘Superman’”, a new documentary film by director Davis Guggenheim, follows the struggles of five public school children as they attempt to leave failing public school districts for better, high-performing charter schools.
Charter schools provide an alternative to public education. The schools receive a mix of public and private funding. The schools are not held to the strict, bureaucratic policies of public schools.
The film has received rave reviews from liberals and conservatives. It shines a much-needed light on the failures of public school systems and the benefits of a charter school education, but it leads to an even bigger discussion.
Public school education has become the new civil rights struggle for America.
It is still very true that in the year 2010, the greatest indicator of a child’s academic achievement is her family’s socioeconomic status. This should not be the case; all children have the right to receive a top-notch education.
The Mississippi Delta is one of the poorest economic regions in the United States. According to 2010 accountability records from the Mississippi Department of Education, many of the Delta’s public schools are failing to meet the needs of their students. The West Bolivar School District in Rosedale is considered “at risk of failing” with its middle school deemed “at risk of failing” and its elementary school set on “academic watch.”
In my hometown of Shelby, the North Bolivar School District has been considered “successful,” with its elementary and middle schools both considered “successful.” My alma mater, on the other hand, Broad Street High School, as been set at “academic watch” with a graduation rate of about 59 percent.
Coahoma County School District is on an “academic watch.” Coahoma County Junior Senior High School and Friars Point Elementary are “at risk of failing” and Lyon Elementary is “failing.” Coahoma Agricultural High School (which is separate from Coahoma County’s school district) is on “academic watch” with a graduation rate of 47 percent. In the Clarksdale School District, Clarksdale High School is “at risk of failing” and W.A. Wiggins Middle School is “failing.”
Humphreys County School District is “at risk of failing.” Both its high school and junior high school are “at risk of failing.”
There are some bright spots in the Delta. The Quitman County School District is “successful,” with its elementary and junior high schools considered “successful” and its high school considered “high performing.”
In the well-off areas of Mississippi, the numbers look a lot better.
Oxford High School is considered a “star school.” Oxford’s Bramlett, Oxford and Della Davidson elementary schools are all “high performing.”
The Desoto County School District is “high performing.” Horn Lake, Olive Branch and Southaven high schools are all “high performing.” Desoto Central and Center Hill high schools are “star schools.” The Madison County School District’s Velma Jackson and Madison Central High School are “high performing” and its Ridgeland High is a “star school.”
Mississippi has two major education problems to address.
Mississippi has too many school districts. Mississippi only has 82 counties, which mean tax payers are spending money to support superintendents and other administrators who can’t meet the needs of their students in small districts.
Mississippi is also behind on charter schools. The Mississippi senate and house passed a charter school bill in February. The charter school law has its drawbacks, but hopefully the charter schools will perform for Mississippi’s students.
Quality public education is a full legal right, not a privilege afforded to only a few.