Public Education and The Media

Oprah devoted another show to public education and the movie "Waiting for Superman." Her previous show about the movie and Michelle Rhee "got a lot of people talking." According to Oprah, when the public is "fired up," it is the time to act. I couldn't agree more, which is why my previous post covered the responses, emotions and questions the discussion raised.  September 24's show had another string of educators, who focused on similar theme: Everyone must be part of the solution in public education, and that solution must take part because it is a moral obligation to invest in children.

Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey said that America "cannot have a superior democracy with an inferior education system." All guests resonated this message, emphasizing that when the future is left behind, America will not progress. Secretary Arne Duncan called for Americans to educate their way to a better economy, especially in a time of crisis. He added that America is 9th in the world for college graduates, which means American students are not competitive for jobs.
Guests also addressed the moral and conscientious aspects of public education. Secretary Duncan called "Waiting for Superman" a "Rosa Parks movie" because he saw dignity in the students' eyes like the previous generation saw with Parks. Geoffery Canada, founder of Harlem Children's Zone, compared public education harshly, by saying it is a billion dollar industry that no CEO would take on, and that it repeated the same mistakes yearly. The culmination of these guests was that public education's failings, our country's risk in doing nothing and the painfulness in hurting innocent children will compel Americans to act.

Large reform in public education also dominated Oprah's show. Mr. Canada has his students attend classes from 8:00 to 4:00 every day through July. Other countries do so, and their students perform better. Additionally, he stressed the importance of parental involvement and in teaching students proper school habits. (For instance, he tells students that "homework" and 'studying" are different things, which may take hours to complete). Unions were another frequented topic. Secretary Duncan said that some are helpful and part of the solution because they do not protect bad teachers. Regardless of individual opinions, the message was clearly to involve all.

Mayor Booker told Oprah's audience that a child's destiny is determined "by the zip code you are born into." This is the state of public education, and it will produce a nasty fate for America unless that changes. So, this media attention on public education must continue. The drive and desire for change cannot leave the American public once "Waiting for Superman" hits DVDs or Oprah closes production. Quick fixes will not change education. The process will be messy and long, and it needs attention through the entire process to keep it at the front of Americans' minds.

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