Diane Albanese’s Musings

3-20-09

Isn’t is bothersome that the headlines often tell of tragic events yet seldom proclaim the good that is being done in schools? Countless victories are won every day in our nation’s schools, but we content ourselves with a large sweep of test scores or unbalanced budgets.

Why? Big news versus little news. Big news is when agencies can summarize trends in a headline in a few short words. Test Scores All Time Low! Students Performance Dropping! Administrator Admits to Felony! Sensationalism sells. The big picture allows the public to formulate opinions of schools in a brief time without really delving into the depths of the issues. The problem here is that their opinions are formed on filtered information that is sifted to reveal only the warts and blemishes of the system and not the progress or record of successes.

Two possible solutions to the problem. The first one has been suggested by the PTO President from Rehoboth Beach Elementary. He says that parents should get involved in the schools. He helps out in the computer lab and could verify firsthand the difficulty students have accessing the internet. When the Town Meetings were held, this gentleman expressed a credible opinion about the issue and people in the room listened. Rehoboth was the only area to pass the Technology Referendum perhaps due in part to the high level of involvement of the parents there. When the time came to vote for an issue, their informed opinions stood out supporting students.

Getting involved can mean going to the school, having lunch with the students, showing up for events, working on a PTO committee, serving on a planning committee and hosting fundraisers. Involvement is defined by presence and this need not only be from parents. There were many non-parental voters who showed up to the Town Hall meetings to ask where the District moneys were being spent. These folks would make great mentors for at-risk students or helpers at various events. You don’t have to be a parent to get involved: you just have to care and want to make things better.

The other idea is for the school system to become more transparent and proactive in providing information. One of the top priorities for the schools ought to be to get the word on all things that relate to the schools, student achievement, operations, plans and success. We don’t need to spin it but we do need to constantly provide it.

We do not do enough to insure that the citizens have access to good information and the people with the answers. It is especially disturbing that anyone can get on the radio and say anything about our schools without regard for truth. Letters to the editor in local newspapers must be signed; what about voices on the radio? How are these anonymous and often time venomous voices to be held credible?

In this age of technology there are many ways to communicate. Websites, news articles, school district newsletters, and phone messages are good ways to get the story straight. This coupled with volunteer efforts in our schools would go a long way toward informing and improving education.

~ by Diane Albanese on March 24, 2009.