Indiana

School Daze

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I recently got an e-mail from someone accusing me of hating public schools and doing nothing to promote the positive things that take place in them.  My first instinct was to rip the writer a new one in my usual brilliant prose, however I decided to take a more thoughtful approach and further clarify my position.

Here’s my response…

Dear XXXXXXXX,

Thank you for you e-mail.  I understand your passion for public education, and believe it or not, we are a lot closer than you think.  First, I do not hate pubic education.  I am a product of a public elementary, high school, college and grad school.  I did not attend private school until I went to St. Louis University School of Law.  I also teach at a public community college and frequently offer my services to speak to students in public and private schools.   

Where we respectfully differ is that while I have the utmost respect for teachers and educators who really care about kids, I have absolutely no use for educrats.  An “educrat” is a person who works in a school system and they have nothing to do with educating students.  They are simply there to fill space and cost the taxpayers money.

In addition, I don’t think demanding high standards for education is a bad thing.  In a world where students are competing not only with kids in the next town, but also on the next continent, a good education is crucial for their economic well-being.  As a good friend once told me, public education may not compete locally, but their graduates do compete globally.

And while we’re at it, what’s wrong with school districts privatizing non-educational functions such as transportation, human resources, janitorial and food service?  Privatization would free up funds more more classroom instruction.

And in Indiana, the new Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett is making it easier for school districts to educate kids by waiving rules that can impede classroom instruction.  All districts have to do is take advantage of the opportunities.

XXXXXX, hopefully I shown to you that I don’t “hate” pubic education.  I am very critical of the ways schools operate, particularly IPS.  But the criticism is not out of spite, but actually out of concern for the children; a significant portion come from backgrounds where their only hope is a good education.  I have no plans to stop pointing out where I think people are being short changed.  To do otherwise would be a disservice.

Thanks for the e-mail.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on March 17, 2009 (boomark / email).