It was terrific to see all the space Wednesday Journal gave to the achievement gap [What if we all tried to solve the achievement gap, Viewpoints, Nov. 15]. Roberta Raymond did an excellent job of offering up what the problem looks like, the inability of our present system to solve the problem, and 12 points of involvement that may help to solve the problem. There is no doubt that any of those ideas would help put a dent in the achievement gap, but certainly doesn’t address the problem head on.
Many years ago I tried to convince Dan Haley and Ken Trainor that they should have a weekly column on education in the Oak Park schools. It there is any place in the United States that might be able to solve the achievement gap, it would be Oak Park. The question is: Can we keep on task? Politically, that is almost impossible in Oak Park.
Let’s review a few of Ms. Raymond’s “What ifs?”
To create a large committee would almost guarantee inertia, if not failure. Everyone knows the problem and a few people have even glimpsed solutions. The solutions might conflict with existing systems and even with existing prejudices. One solution is less than three miles away. A private middle school takes children in the fifth grade because of their poor performance at their present school. This Austin school [San Miguel] enrolls children reading at the second-grade level into fifth grade. With a longer school year and extended periods of reading and math, these children are all at grade level by graduation. This year every graduate (26 out of the original 28) was tested and accepted by private high schools, including some to both Fenwick and Trinity.
The administrators from both districts 97 and 200 meet with schools all over the country that have similar issues, including the locations Raymond mentioned. Interesting-I believe some of these schools have gone to uniforms. It has been proven throughout the nation that discipline problems are reduced by more than 50 percent when the students are in uniforms. (Try to sell that idea in Oak Park.)
The Summer Enrichment Program is a great idea, especially if you can get enough learning into the mix. However, trying to get in touch with those families of children who are not succeeding has always been a challenge in Oak Park. They are often single parents, very busy, maybe had a bad experience in school, often don’t feel comfortable in the school environment. These are the parents we need to be working with before their child even starts first grade. This is where you get the most value for your effort.
I have been working with a group of friends for about six years tutoring at Irving School. They open the school 30 minutes early, and we work with first-, second- and third-graders who need additional reading help. Irving has the most dedicated staff, and they are very supportive of our efforts, with many teachers also donating additional time.
There is a need to help students at every level. However, to eliminate the gap with our present short school day and school year, we have to reach these children in pre-school and kindergarten to make sure they have the basics needed to start first grade. This is a project that definitely seems possible. The other piece is to offer some type of screening and additional schooling to those who transfer in without being at grade level.
Ms. Raymond is not looking for a simplistic solution, but the facts are if the child can’t read, they fall behind. All the students who are succeeding in the Austin school are black. That has not hampered their success. The gap is created primarily with children who come from a situation where education is not valued or the family situation makes it difficult for the child to learn. Reading takes time, patience, building blocks.
Identify the children who need help early. Give them the help needed.
For those already in the system, offer extra help-quality, fun help, perhaps staffed with some of the mentors mentioned. This could be on Saturdays. We spend millions on great facilities that are used about 25 percent of the time.
Uniforms eliminate many perceived differences and may help desegregate athletics and lunchrooms. You can discuss these issues with our neighbors, Fenwick and Trinity.
For over 10 years I have been discussing and working at this gap problem with some of the brightest people in the area. I’m not interested in being on a committee, but if the Journal wanted to host a forum or two to discuss solutions, I’m sure you would create a lot of BUZZ.