Engaging Urban School Reform

There are many critics out there who misdirect the public's attention regarding the cause of school reform. These critics direct the public to think that a plethora of people and organizations are responsible for the state of America's educations system today. Politicians, land developers, think tanks, unqualified teachers, and whatever group you want to add to the list are not responsible for the events that lead to failing test scores, school closings, and the emerging trend of privatized education. That is not to say that they, too, are not apart of the problem. However, they are not the originating source. The  truth of the matter that is not being discussed with the public can be obtained with the yes or now answer to the following two questions:

1. Generally speaking, is education (the process of learning, retaining, and demonstrating knowledge) a priority in every home of students across the country?
2. Generally speaking, is every parent who is involved with their child, truly able to assist their child in pursuing and appreciating the education they receive?

The answer to these questions, unfortunately, are "no." Of course, there are individuals who are the exception: there are parents who do instill the notion that education is a priority in the home over other things, such as entertainment, materialism, etc. and these same parents explain the value of education their child. But this is not happening in every home; this is a truth that you should not deny.

The conversation about the advantages that some households have over others in reference to money and ethnicity can continue ad nauseam. Get off that narrative! Continuing to play the role of the victim is precisely what lead to school closings in the first place! This mindset allows for politicians, land developers, think tanks, unqualified teachers, and whatever group you want to add to the list to take advantage of you. Stop blaming others for your weakness and your unwillingness to admit your part in this debacle. It is only after you admit responsibility for your actions (or in this case, lack of action) that you can begin to truly address and resolve the mess that you created.

In case you have not realized it, there is a war going on...an education war! Those who do not prioritize education will be without it. Those who are not involved with assisting their child in pursuing and appreciating their education will be left to complain about what to do with their child when the doors of the neighborhood school are permanently closed.

Unfortunately...this is already happening.

However, things are not as bleak as they appear. War-like times call for war-like measures. Besides admitting guilt for taking the system for granting and expecting someone else to do what you should have done yourself, you need to completely and totally change your mindset. You must do whatever is necessary to ensure that your child's rights to receive a quality education is not infringed upon. That may mean that you have to make sacrifices; more than you are already making. This is the nature of parenthood, and therefore, must be done. Do not continue to listen to the critics out there who continue to tell you. They are not the ones who are directly effected--you are. Work on two things to achieve the results you are looking for:

1. Take the time to reflect on what you can do as an individual. Remember that your battle is an individual one. Join groups and organizations to help your cause, but do not solely rely on them to achieve the results you are looking for. That kind of thinking leads you right back to where you started. Come up with a series of plans that demand accountability on the part of all those involved. Just as you had to become accountable for your actions, so do they.

2. Stay informed and communicate with others. If the mayor, chancellor, or any other politician is making certain decisions that you don't agree with, make sure that your voice is heard. Also make sure that others know what is happening, too. If you think that it takes a village to raise a child, then the village needs to stay concerned about, and always be aware of the status of the war.

The fight for your child's education should not have started when the announcement came that school doors were permanently closing. But now, hopefully, you are ready to engage the problem known as school reform. There will be many battles to fight. Remember, anything worth having is worth fighting for, and trust me, the right to a robust and rewarding education is truly worth fighting for.

Weak Points and Strong Points

It's been a long time since I've put up a post. I apologize for that. Life is an art form, and with that said, I needn't go into detail about how life introduces you to things that either knock you off your course or aid you in fulfilling your goals. My life is a combination of both, as is most people. But enough talk about me and let's get on with discussing this art form we call life.

I only mentioned something about my personal life to elaborate further on the topic of this blog entry: one's weak points and strong points. It is irresponsible of anyone to deny the fact that they have areas of weakness, and it is just as irresponsible for anyone to exaggerate their strong points. Life is all about becoming aware of one's own weak and strong points and knowing how these either hinder or assist one's ability to think and act in the world. No one needs to be reminded of the fact that life is not perfect. Life often throws us curveballs and brings us moments of sadness, inadequacy, fear, and loneliness but, at the same time, it presents us with opportunities to learn, grow, mature, and rise to face the obstacles that may be on our path. I specifically want to address weak and strong points as it relates to one of my favorite films of 2012: Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained.

I am fully aware that this film came out over 4 months ago and that my contribution to the dialogue about this film is late--and possibly repetitive--but I will not let that stop me! I will make my comment brief and I hope that I give you a thought to think about. Just like Django, we are all slaves to something or someone in this world. This is not debatable--this is a true statement that you may not like to (or want to) admit, but it is nevertheless true. It is an unfortunate position to be in; we live in this world and because it is intricately designed, we are participants in religious and political movements, philosophies, and/or ideologies that are already functioning the minute we are born. Our parents, teachers, politicians, family members, and friends all try to sell us a bill of goods and it is up to us to either adopt or reject those goods. The invisible chains we wear everyday are just as iron-clad as the metal chains of slavery; they may not resemble metal in the slightest and you may not think that you are helping someone else profit off of actions, but you will have to think again. Every person is different and I cannot elaborate on every person's set of chains (or more than one). But they are there, they are real, and we are constantly trip over them.

The only difference between us and Django is that Django knows how to free himself from his chains. For us, it is a lot harder, for the world is a lot more complicated than the world of 1863. The first step, however, to freeing ourselves from our chains is to admit that they are there. This takes a lot of reflection--not just of yourself but also of the world around you. This awakening is definitely a test of your weak points and strong points. It will either help you understand that the world you think exists is actually a lie or it will only solidify your initial perspective about your position in the world, and cause you to reject anything that opposes your perspective. For those of you who begin to see that the bill of goods you have been sold is not immaculate, you are becoming stronger. You slowly become aware that the bill of goods you were sold helps make you weak and this is no longer acceptable. Now, you will begin to feel your chains loosen and become less restricting.

From here, you must embark on a long journey; not necessarily a physical journey, but a journey nevertheless. The  journey you begin will steer you in many directions, as it will test you to really think about all the things you think you know, believe, and have faith in. This journey is not for the faint at heart--again, it is only for those who want to free themselves from the chains that bind them. Everyone's journey varies but there is one common factor: there will be at least one person who will want to keep you in your chains. That is what the character of Stephen represents in Django Unchained. And the world is full of Stephens and they come is various shapes, sizes, and colors. You two may have to duke it out with each other a couple of times before one of you is victorious. The question, however, is simple: are you willing to do whatever it takes to be victorious and free yourself from chains that you know are holding you back and keeping you in a limited place (physically or psychologically)?

YOU are the only one who can answer that question. YOU can either control the situation or YOU can let the situation control YOU. I don't advocate for weakness. I advocate for transforming weakness into strength. This brings about true happiness and freedom. Don't continue to make the mistake and think that you are free. How do you expect to create a work of art out of your life if your chains continue to trip you up? Be better. Be wiser. Be stronger!