Oct/103
Waiting for “Superman”
This week, United Way of Central Indiana has invited community leaders, partners and donors to private screenings of the newly released documentary Waiting for "Superman." United Way understands that if an individual receives a quality education, they dramatically reduce their chances of being unemployed and dramatically increase their income potential. A high school degree at a minimum and a college degree for most are necessary to support a healthy, independent lifestyle.
Jay Geshay, Senior V.P., Community Planning & Strategic Initiatives
Unfortunately, a significant number of our children in our community are not achieving the minimum of a high school degree. It is not just the child's or their family's issue. The problem affects us all, and we must all work together to improve the chances for our children for a healthy and independent future.
Understanding these facts about quality education is why United Way of Central Indiana adopted education as a second priority in addition to supporting human service in 2006 and why United Way is spotlighting this film.
The film is direct, unapologetic and controversial. It clearly states that all children can learn and deserve a quality education. It also states that the current education system fails too many students and that teachers' union agreements are obstacles to reform. It positions charter schools as alternatives.
United Way does not endorse the content of the film, but we do believe that our community must engage in critical discussion about improving our educational outcomes. United Way does not believe that any one idea presented in the movie is a silver bullet to enable our community to graduate 100 percent of its children. But, if we care enough about the problem to struggle together for a solution, surely we can dramatically improve our children's success.
Much good work is being done today, but more work is needed. Many people are involved, but more are needed. After each screening of the movie, United Way is leading a panel discussion that includes voices from the schools, the teachers' union and the reform movement. All voices need to be heard to improve student success. Sides should not be drawn, but joint strategies need to be developed.
United Way's job is to recruit and engage people and organizations that have the passion, expertise and resources to help. How can you help? We're listening, and this blog offers one way to extend the conversation. Together, we can!
-- Jay Geshay
Senior V.P., Community Planning & Strategic Initiatives
October 21st, 2010
SUPERMAN WAS FANTASTIC! This film shows what many of us know already…..our public schools are broken and we must change that now! Charter schools may not be the only answer, but they certainly are one of the answers.
What this film did not show is the large number of parents who do not care about education for their children. We want to think that all parents put education first, but that isn’t true today. For children from such families, a small, caring classroom environment and a great teacher are even more essential.
The impact of the teachers unions on educational change was quite clear in the movie and demands constant community dialogue.
Thank you for bringing this impactful movie to Indianapolis!
Jan
October 22nd, 2010
The film really was incredible and seriously called out the ridiculous flaws in our educational system. I do agree with Jan Diggins’ comment, however, that much also depends on the family life and parental situation of the child. There is much to be done in community and school settings for these children.
I don’t personally have children, but watching this film helped me to grasp the fact that I was incredibly fortunate in my upbringing and options for education. Undoubtedly, there are many opportunites for those of who are more fortunate to work in small ways to impact a child’s life, and for those who have power and influence to work in large ways to work to fix the system. Nothing will be perfect, but the teacher’s union as it is, is downright malicious and must be disbanded/radically changed if we ever want our nation’s youth to have a hope of learning the fundamentals and growing to love knowledge.
October 22nd, 2010
Suggest that European models that are successful educational delivery systems deserve study by American counterparts. We must be willing to change the way we deliver education. Only then will can we achieve the high standards we expect from Amrican youth.