I've spent the whole week thinking and reflecting on the CReATE (Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education) forum that addressed the myths and realities facing the American school system. The forum focused on the challenges of the Chicago Public school system as the city prepares for a new mayor. Although the forum was inspiring for me personally as a future Chicago public school teacher, I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed by the amount of myths surrounding the teaching/public education profession. Not only does a teachers have to remain a researcher to insure that we are provide students with current, relevant information, but we have to be researchers to stay on top of the negative discourses happening in the media. Consequently, this is the reason why CReATE is so valuable to teachers and those interested in transforming our public school system.
I've also have been thinking a lot about organizing as a means for creating change in large institutions like the public school system. I think there is something to be said about applying the same strategies and tactics prison reform movements are using to the educational system. I myself need to be better educated on prison reform movements. However, its clear to me that both systems are intrinsically connected. Poor educational systems will always feed prisons. Yet the struggles for changing both systems seem to be happening apart from each other. There are a lot of opinions being tossed around about what to do about bad teachers, bad schools, bad children, but no one seems to want to talk about the folks benefiting from corrupt school and prison systems.
Response to CReATE forum
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your last point is a really interesting one, rayshawn. no one wants to ask hard questions because oftentimes the questions won't reflect well on 1) the decision-makers and people in power or 2) the questioners themselves. but we have to ask the questions. rather than searching for solutions, all too often folks are too busy assigning blame and making sure their own noses are clean.
and the notion of connecting reform between institutions is very intriguing. absolutely the prison and school systems have connections, and maybe a hard look at both and finding the parallels will help upend the approaches people are taking to reform.