Those who defend the Gates-Albany partnership to “reimagine schools” claim it doesn’t hurt to consult a “successful” person (with business ties) on how to make the system work better.
My mother is a retired paraprofessional and my father is a retired District 75 teacher, who are immigrants from the former Soviet Union. They escaped persecution and came to America for a better life for their family. They’re hugely successful in my eyes.
Here’s what they tell me, which was reinforced by my own teaching experience: we need more social workers, nurses, and counselors to address the increasing amount of trauma and healthcare needs our students are experiencing, from early childhood to higher ed.
We need more bilingual teachers to better serve our diverse students and reduce class size. We need multiple achievement pathways to better capture the wide range of student strengths rather than solely rely on standardized exams.
We need 21st century school buildings fully ADA compliant to ensure access for all. We need adequate wiring in schools so we can actually turn on and use computers at the same time we turn on the lights.
We need adequate maintenance budgets to keep our schools safe and more support for our school food workers, who are the lifeline keeping kids and families fed, especially in this pandemic.
We don’t need a fancy partnership with bells and whistles announced on a PowerPoint on national TV. Albany leaders can pick up a phone and get free, fast, and simple consultation by our licensed and professional school community, who I proudly consider my extended family.
If “reimagine” means further disinvestment in schools by replacing important socialization & relationship-building roles schools play in a democracy, in addition to their academic role, w/more tablets & Microsoft contracts, then sign-out, disconnect, & power OFF that nonsense NOW
