We’re too busy taking parent’s right to choose away that we aren’t listening to their experiences in public schools. “I believe in school choice and I also believe in traditional public education. . . that’s my choice!”, says long time Atlanta advocate, Keisha Spells. Regardless of what a parent decides, we should never be in a position to take their…
Tag: school culture
Derrill Miller Shares the Secret to Operating a Successful School.
The Metro Atlanta area is growing in school innovation with the transformation of failing schools to Charter operated, charter or theme schools. Failing schools are often a result of failed leadership and school operations. School with poor performing operations departments impact teachers and children, especially African American and Latina students. Many parents of Black and brown children are concerned about…
Customer Service Should Be a High Ranked Area for Schools; Sadly It’s Not!
If you have ever been into a Chick-fil-A restaurant, you know how welcomed you feel when you walk into the door. That’s the exact same feeling that children, parents and guests should have when they walk into a school. The main office of a school is the first place that guests come to; it’s the welcome and information center. It’s…
Requiring Students to Walk in Straight Lines; A Punitive Measure or Effective Management?
Recently in a teacher training the topic of walking in straight lines came up during the discussion about classroom management. I was very surprised at the responses. Traditionally, teachers have been champions of having children walk in a straight line. “We’ve been under a long impression of tradition and knowledge of what works with “managing” children,” says one veteran teacher…
Narvie Harris E.S. Gives School Choice a Bad Name by Targeting Black Hairstyles.
On yesterday, a stakeholder of Narvie Harris Elementary School in Dekalb County, GA was shocked at the lack of cultural sensitivity towards Black children and cultural hairstyles. From braids with beads and bows for girls to high top fades, boxes and even parts (line design) for boys, photos of Black children with nice hairstyles were placed around the school with…
An Elementary Student Says Guns Have NO Place in Schools
I received a letter from fourth-grader Ashawnti Jackson, a student at Thomasville Heights Elementary here in Atlanta. I don’t think anyone could say it better. Dear EdLanta, Schools are no place for hate! Schools are also no place for guns. My family and school teaches me that people don’t need to hate on other people, be mean or violent to them.…
Devos Supports Teachers Being Armed at Schools
Teachers set the tone of their classrooms, build a warm environment, mentor and nurture students, become role models, and listen and look for signs of trouble. The most common role a teacher plays in the classroom is to teach knowledge to children. What is our country coming to? President Trump and Betsy Devos support teachers being armed at schools during school hours. This is not the way to make…