Allentown Pastor Blasts "Educational Apartheid"

Rev. Gregory Edwards

Yesterday's Allentown Pastor Slams Gentrification at Expense of Education took a few of you out of your comfort zone. After all, we are used to blaming people of color for their lack of education or decent jobs. Well, to some extent, Allentown Pastor Gregory Edwards agrees. But he also blames bad teachers and an educational system that, in his view, amounts to educational apartheid.

He is first and foremost a preacher. So what you see below is exactly what you might hear at what he calls an "After Meetin' Eatin'" Church, known to people like me as AME.

Words on a computer screen are no replacement for listening to what really is a show, but let me give you the rest of his address to the Elks on Monday. It struck a chord in me, and pissed many of you off, and that's a good thing. .

When we look at the outcomes academically, and we go to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Allentown, we ought to be outraged that our young black and Latino men, in particular, score single digit level proficiency in math and science and reading. So we got churches that can name it and claim it, but can't spell it. Shoutin' and not sproutin'. So somehow, we have to reawaken ourselves that if in fact public education is a guaranteed right of every citizen native to the soil, that has got to be a front on which we need to stand. We've got to begin to organize locally and we've got to begin to reclaim our children's history when it comes to public education.

If our children cannot read by third grade, you know what happens academically. From Kindergarten to third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade, they are reading to learn. California already begins to forecast how many prisons they build by the reading scores of third graders.

In my social context, in Allentown, nearly 70% of our third graders are not at third grade reading levels. So now, Ray Ray and Pookie can't read. Then what happens is our children go into middle school. What happens in middle school, those transition years? They go through puberty. Some of y'all remember that, right? You survived it, they'll survive it, too. But their bodies begin to change. Their voices begin to deepen. But at the end of the day, they're our babies, our children. But they are placed in the hands of people who have some level of cultural dissonance and don't understand that just because a child is different doesn't mean he's deficient.

Now because our children have struggled - can't read - they begin to see some behavioral issues. They no longer become cute. Now they're in crisis and they begin to be labeled. But the state gives every school district extra funding for special education, which is therefore why our children end up in special education.

We are funding what I call educational apartheid in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It is not required for a child to go to kindergarten. So you can have a 7 year old show up for school, never having been around children his or her age which means they have not been socialized to the learning environment. If we cannot socialize to the learning environment, your behavior begins to be different. But because our teachers in large part don't look like our students, there is empirical categorizing and there is the evolution of a slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, slow change.

Our children think they are dumb. I have never encountered a child who can not learn. I've encountered a whole lot of folk who can't teach, bt i have never encountered a young person who is not creative, who does not have some level of artistry residing in him, who does not want to be listened to or heard. But I have run into some incompetent people who call themselves teachers.

In his book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire says that education is not just a way out of poverty, but a way to end it. If you're really educated and you have your credentials and your pedigree, you know that you didn;t get there by yourself.

Folk in public education teach head, but they very rarely touch heart. Education that is valuable and first class touches head and heart. If you educate someone's head, but you never touch their heart, that's why we have public policy looking the way it looks. That's why we have the folks running for office who are running for office. Information is not the same thing as intelligence.

One of my heroes, Marian Wright Edelman, was the president of the Children's Defense Fund and was also a Freedom Rider in 1964, took some students to Mississippi in what is called the Mississippi Freedom Summer. Mississippi was the last state to allow blacks to vote. They began to take responsibility for what public schools wouldn't do. They met in the basements of churches. They met under poplar trees. They met on the lawn. And they taught children of color, not only how to read, not only how to write, but how to think for themselves. They taught them about the Constitution. They taught them about civic engagement. They taught them that one can't truly participate in their own humanity of they're not educated. We will always be on the receiving end of someone else's wind.

We cannot send our children to school and think that's enough. There used to be a time when they were in school for a season, but the rel learning happened at home and in the church, at the park, around the corner in Big Momma's house.

We've gotta' reclaim our sense of family so that it truly does take a village. We cannot say, "Those are somebody else's children." They are either all of our children or none of our children.

I'm so glad that somebody along my way spoke to me and encouraged me when my 8th grade guidance counselor said, "You ought not to go to college. You're not college material."

I shouted all the way across the stage when I got my bachelor's degree. I danced all across the stage when i got my master's degree. And then I said "Thank Ya'" when I got my Doctoral degree. i didn't go back and curse her. i thanked her becaue she gave me a sea of resiliency and "STILL I RISE" and "STILL I RISE" and "STILL I RISE."

We've got to give that to our children who ARE SOMEBODY, STILL YOU RISE. YOU ARE OUR CHILDREN. YOU COME FROM GREATNESS.

Langston Hughes asks,

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Our children are brilliant! Brilliant! We have to reclaim out children.

So what am I asking you to do?

I'm asking us to be free, free to show up at the next school board meeting, and even if you don't like public speaking, write down that question. Go get yourself in some good trouble.

Morganelli Wants Teacher Bill of Rights

Morganelli wants teacher Bill of Rights

John Morganelli is Northampton County's DA. Allentown is outside his jurisdiction. But he walked into a hastily called news conference on April 20 with a copy of The Morning Call in his hand. Over the weekend, he read a Watchdog report detailing over 3,000 incidents involving unruly students last year, including assaults on other students and staff.  That was the "last straw" for him. Noting that this is a Lehigh Valley wide problem that includes suburban schools, Morganelli said "it is time to clamp down on the recent escalation of disruptions occurring in our schools due to a small out of control,segment of unruly, disrespecting and disruptive students."

He noted that Lehigh County DA Jim Martin is similarly frustrated, and in the wake of student assaults against police officers, has called for stiffer penalties for this criminal behavior. But he believes it;s time that teachers know they have rights, too. Noting that most of them feel handcuffed, Morganelli called for a Teacher Bill of Rights to protect them from lawsuits for insisting on order in an educational environment. He noted that under existing law, teachers "have an absolute right to protect themselves and use force to maintain order."  despite an atmosphere of "political correctness run amuck" in which teachers tell him they are afraid to put up their hands to defend themselves. "Teachers need more rights. not students, and they need to be able to discipline student without fear."

Morganelli was especially critical of the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which he claims has been perverted to include disruptive and violent students and school administrators who are unable, without parental or court permission, to place a disruptive special needs student into an alternative program or suspend for more than 10 days or even require counseling. "IDEA needs to be revamped so schools can truly take a zero tolerance approach toward school violence," he said.

Morganelli announced he is calling on federal legislators to amend IDEA to give educators more flexibility in dealing with and expelling students who cause problems in school, regardless how they are classified.

"These kids have no fear," he complained.

"This is my message to teachers and educators: In Northampton County, this District Attorney is not going to allow a bunch of unruly and disruptive students, no matter how they are classified, to create havoc and physical danger to other students in out schools and our educators. If you use reasonable force to maintain order or protect yourself, you are within the law and will not be criminally prosecuted."

Updated: School Board Candidates on Allentown School Student WalkOut

Photo of walkout on Monday, courtesy of Lou Shupe

The Pied Piper of Allentown's schools, Michael Frassetto, has vowed to lure children out of their classrooms every day this week. Instead of attracting them with a magic flute, he's been using Nathan (Nate Whips) Markham's stretch limo. But it's unclear whether this walkout will extend into a third day. Frassetto's Facebook page, which was exploding with all kinds of videos and exhortations on Monday, was mysteriously quiet on Tuesday. So was Whips. He's busy with a new girlfriend who apparently is willing to overlook his rather extensive criminal history. That's nice. We know how Whips and Frassetto feel. But what about the people who are actually running for the position of school director.

Scott Armstrong and Bob Smith are both vocal opponents of the walkout. Scott, who has never shied away from controversy, spoke forcefully against the walkout last week in an essay published by Michael Molovisnky.

Last week, Smith took also exception to a walkout in which students would leave their classrooms to rendezvous at a statue of MLK.

Dr. King would never support students walking out of school, he protested and marched so all students would be able to go to any school they wanted. Dr. King wanted students to go to school not walk out. Shame on adults for organizing this walkout. I ask every Allentown student not to walk out but to help make changes by staying in school, working with teachers and the board together.

On Tuesday, Smith also disputed Frassetto's numbers. He said 400 participated on Monday, but that dropped to just 123 on Tuesday. On Monday when students tried to leave the protest, they were told they would be arrested, according to a source at the scene.* That might explain why the numbers dropped so dramatically.

Bob Smith condemned the "hypocrisy of this history teacher [Frassetto], whose 15 minutes of fame is almost up. ... I still would meet with any student, any time, on any issue they have or want to discuss with their parents or not, but not with anybody with this United Youth group.

Frassetto heads up the United Youth Party.

Charlie Thiel echoes Bob Smith and Armstrong. "I oppose the walkout," he made clear. "The outcomes of this walkout do not improve the education of our students."

It was a little harder to pin down Mark Smith, who posted a long and rambling commentary that essentially said nothing. After a rather testy exchange (reproduced it in its entirety here), Mark Smith finally stated, "I am not for the walk out. I feel it is counterproductive on several levels. There are better ways to address this problem. I do however, believe that there are people in our community that think this is the only way they will be heard. And, EVERYONE deserves to be heard."

Audrey Mathison refused to condemn the walkout, and appears to support it.

I believe that the walkout is a symptom of the distrust of the school district felt by some in the community. And I believe that the best way to deal with distrust is to talk openly about it. I would like to see the district sponsor some small group community discussions where individuals will feel welcome to speak freely. Maybe an evening discussion could be sponsored in elementary buildings for the neighborhood’s convenience.

And I would like to see the organizers of the walkout promote such discussions.

So Mathison actually would invite Nate Whips and Frassetto to share their expertise.

Elizabeth Martinez failed to respond. Ce-Ce Gerlach, the so-called people's candidate, ignored repeated requests for a statement expressing her actual position.

So there you have it. Four candidates are opposed to the walkout. One candidate appears to support it. Two candidates never bothered to weigh in on this issue.

Addendum (11:21 am): When kids were threatened with arrest for leaving the protest, that threat came from the organizers, not police. They actively misled students even after being assured no arrest would be made.

Updated 5:15 pm - Mathison opposes walkout. - Audrey Mathison has just emailed me to claim, "Evidently—though I read what I wrote several times—I accidentally gave you the wrong idea. It was never my intention to make you think that I support the walkout or condone truancy. And I certainly do not condone adults who advocate cutting class. I hope this clarifies things."

Is State Failing Our Public Schools?

When a high school student has poor academic performance, most good ones will refuse to allow him to participate in sports until his grades improve. Athletics is important, but academics should always trump extracurricular activities. I believe that the same standard we use against students should be used against schools. If a high school is unable to meet state prescribed standards, every athletic game it plays should be marked as a forfeit, no matter what the score. Games should continue so that the students can continue to enjoy them. But parents and boosters would be on notice that the school is a failure and its games will be meaningless until it turns things around.

Easton High School, with a 64.9% rating, would be considered 0-10, even though it is 10-0. That sanction might inspire people to turn things around.

For you Easton fans out there, don't worry. I'm the only one I know who has proposed this goofy idea.

But there's another group out there that's trying to improve our failing schools. According to Keystone Crossroads,a coalition of parents, school districts and even the NAACP have banded together to sue the Commonwealth. They demand that the state be compelled to fund a "thorough and efficient" education, which is required by the state Constitution.

Based on the state's own standardized testing, there are five Lehigh Valley high schools that fail to provide a "thorough and efficient" education.

Why Families Avoid Living in The City

Urbanistas tend to look down their noses at anyone who refuses to live in out urban core s in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. They think a Bacon Fest or hockey arena should be all they need to do to persuade people to live there. Never mind the crime, noise, difficulty parking and taxes. But there's a much more basic reason why people refuse to live there - education. Pa. School Performance has released its latest report cards for public schools throughout the state. 72% of all public schools scored a 70 or higher. Here in the Lehigh Valley, the city-based high schools did horribly. If you are a parent, and want your child to go on to college, why on earth would you send him to Allen, Dieruff, Liberty, Easton or even Catasauqua?.

Here are the high school results, from poorest to best.

Allen HS - 50.8%
Dieruff High School - 54.9%
Liberty High School - 57%
Easton High School - 64.9%
Catasauqua High School - 68.2%
Northampton HS - 72.9%
Freedom High School - 73.2%
Northern Lehigh HS - 77.8%
Pen Argyl High School - 80.6%
Bangor High School - 81.5%
Northwestern Lehigh HS - 83.5%
Wilson High School - 84.9%
Salisbury HS - 86.4%
Whitehall HS - 86.9%
Southern Lehigh HS - 88.0%
Saucon Valley HS - 88.9%
Nazareth High School - 90.6%
Parkland High School - 90.9%
Emmaus High School - 92.5%

Freedom High School is the only city-based high school with a passing grade.

School administrators will tell you these test scores mean nothing. Ironically, that's what my kids used to tell me when they had a bad grade.

Corbett Shunned by Millersville Grads

Considering the cuts he proposed to public education during his first two years in office, Governor Corbett should hav thought twice about appearing at a state college commencement. But he does look good in gown and cap. 

Source: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/corbett-gets-silent-treatment-at-mu-graduation/article_e8573dba-f5a4-5115-b123-0c9938d2473b.html?mode=jqm

Talon Helps Lincoln Students Prepare for PSSAs

Talon strikes his modeling pose

Three hundred and eighty-five students at Bethlehem's Lincoln Elementary were recently treated to a special visit from SteelHawks Mascot Talon as they prepared for their annual PSSAs, a standardized test given to students between third and eighth grades.

At a raucous pep rally, kids erupted in laughter as the two-legged prankster swooped in and immediately began to torment their teachers.

Talon was joined by SteelHawks Cory Darby (LB), Leavander Jones (CB), Rashad Rich (WR) and Dwayne Hollis (DB). They served as referees in an athletic contest pitting teachers against students in hulu hoop races and sliding on a small skateboard. The teachers won, but only because they cheated.

Students were also exposed to several sample questions students will answer in the test. Hands flew in the air, as students easily answered math and reading questions.

Students also got a valuable lesson in democracy. They voted on three possible rewards if 100 opr more students get a proficient or higher rating. Principal Benita Draper in a bath robe and slippers for a week, in a clown suit for a week, or in the dunk tank.

An overwhelming majority went with the dunk tank.

While she is being encouraged, June Smith is thanking her teachers.

Custodian Mark Sestak takes a breather with student Byron Haydt.

In addition to Talon, the Lincoln Lion joined the rally.

Students were also visited by a wise old owl. Blinded in an animal attack, Hannibal is cared for by the Wildlands Conservancy. He's 12 years old, and has lived eight years beyond the average life span of a screech owl.

Why Not Draw and Quarter the Allentown School District?

According to The Morning Call, Allentown School District Superintendent Russ Mayo, is asking local business leaders to review their anemic finances and come up with answers. This sounds a lot like King Edwin's "blue ribbon" committee that was going to solve all of the Queen City's financial problems. That went nowhere. That's because, despite all the claims about government running like a business, they are different animals. But there's a solution for Allentown's School District. Draw and quarter it! Not like the good ol' days, with William Wallace crying "Freedom!" But it's time to split this failing school district into four quarters.

ASD has two issues that are almost impossible to resolve at the local level.

First, the pension contributions needed to sustain the unsustainable defined benefit public education pensions can only be changed at the state level. The benefits are defined in Harrisburg, not in Allentown. The salaries of teachers and administrators may or may not be beyond reasonable, but the pensions and benefits that accompany them are ridiculous.

Second, the Allentown model, like the Reading or Lancaster model of purely urban districts, is unsustainable. It is basically impossible to generate real estate taxes to cover expenses.

No suburban school district is willing to consolidate with Allentown, unless mandated by the state and that isn't going to happen. Instead of forcing Allentown to marry Parkland, Whitehall, Catasauqua, or Salisbury School District (the four adjacent districts to Allentown), why not marry Allentown to them all?

Break Allentown up into four pieces and mandate that the surrounding school districts each absorb a piece. It's better than trying to compel one of them to partner with Allentown to save it. Parkland could get West Allentown; Whitehall would sleep with North Allentown; Salisbury could cuddle with South Allentown, and Catasauqua could spoon with East Allentown.

The current state subsidies provided to Allentown could be split among the four school districts with those getting the smallest amount of tax ratable real estate getting more of the subsidy.

Just looking at the budget and seeing where to "make cuts" is a waste of time. That's already happened.