On another post Anonymous wrote:
"Interesting article from two University of Pittsburgh professors.
http://shankerblog.org/?p=10682http://shankerblog.org/?p=10682
"Building
social capital in schools is not easy or costless. It requires time
and, typically, the infusion of additional teaching staff into the
school. It requires a reorientation away from a “Teacher of the Year”
model and toward a system that rewards mentoring and collaboration among
teachers. It also asks school principals and district administrators to
spend less time monitoring teachers and more time encouraging a climate
of trust and information sharing among them. The benefits of social
capital are unequivocal, and unlike many other policy efforts,
initiatives that foster it offer far more promise in terms of measurable
gains for students."
The opposite has been going on in this district for some time now!"
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10 comments:
How about building cultural capital in schools?
It would make tremendous difference in our schools in the Hill and Homewood. Overnight, you would see dramatic increases in academic achievement!
There is still an African- centered academy in the Hill district, right? Has that school built cultural capital, or does it need to be doing something different?
How do you build cultural capital in a district that has a one-size-fits-all curriculum format?
The school that Questioner speaks of is just another of the one-size-curriculum schools.
It stopped functioning as an African-Centered emphasis school when Dr. Moriarity left.
All of the schools in the Hill and Homewood need to be doing something different; but, there is no leadership in the district that is willing to change the status quo. Schools cannot operate outside of Central Office edicts and supervision-- and there are lots and lots of Assistant Superintendents, Chiefs, Executive Directors, etc. to make sure everyone is on the same, right page.
Black teachers are few and far between and often parents are kept out of schools. So much for cultural capital, right?
12:47 - Is there leadership in the black community willing and able to change the status quo ?
9:47 - A new strategy is needed in building social and cultural capital by and for the black community. I need only to point you to Tony Norman's 'Portfolio' piece in today's PG. Indeed it requires 'boots on the ground'.
As a 3rd grade teacher at Miller, I can confirm that is it most definitely functioning as an African Centered Academy. Children learn the principles of Nguzo Saba and they are interwoven into the academic work and behavioral expectations. Children recite an african centered pledge every morning and focus on a different principle of Nguzo Saba each month.
Last month the focus was on Umoja which means unity. The students and teachers marched from the school to freedom corner chanting, singing, drumming, and holding up signs to spread the message of Umoja to the community.
This month our focus is Kujichagulia which means self determination. It is a great little school serving K-5 students. Sadly, these beautiful babies will have to go to U Prep for 6th grade.
We have a wonderful group of teachers and a lot of positive parental support. Our principal is doing a great job of infusing the African Centered Principles into our school culture.
Wow that sounds great! Is there any way to have the school be a K-8? At one point that is what Roosevelt wanted and even did extensive renovations at the building to accommodate K-8 students.
I think it used to be at one point, but it is a really small building. I wish it was K-8, or even K-6. I really don't want to see our students leave us, where we function as a close knit family, and be thrust into the chaos that is U Prep. It really is a great school and a lot of positive things are happening there. Many parents have told me they won't send their kids to U Prep. Many have said they simply don't like the idea of a K - 6, period, even if all the other issues weren't occurring. The idea of 11 & 12 year old with 18 & 19 year olds doesn't sit well with a lot of people, and I agree.
When the community wide facilities meetings were held 5 or 6 years ago, one of the strongest comments was that people did not like the 6-12 configuration. But they went with it anyway.
Grade 6 enrollment at U Prep and Westinghouse is way down. People seem to put up with it at magnets as a way to get their kids a place in the magnet for high school, and because disruptive students at the HS level can be asked to leave. Still even there it causes problems, such as athletic facilities built for a high school having to accommodate both a high school and a middle school.
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/10/24/children-of-color-need-a-level-playing-ground/
This article is from The New Pittsburgh Courier. What surprises me is that the Courier isn't reporting about the "mess" at U Prep. They need to look locally and do investigative reporting about PPS.
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