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Friday, September 16, 2005

Parents, Teachers, Students Brainstorm Ways to Improve Schools

By Isabel Sanchez
Journal Staff Writer
    Some sound bites lifted from a two-hour conversation on how to improve Albuquerque schools: address racism, involve parents and get the kids up in the morning.
    Suggestions and recommendations at a state Public Education Department "community conversation" at Highland High School on Thursday came from parents, teachers, Albuquerque Public Schools staff and students. They were practical, such as longer library hours; concrete, such as students' own recommendation that they get up in time; and thoughtful, such as confronting economic inequality.
    The evening was hosted by Education Secretary Veronica Garcia, with the goal of getting ideas on how to overcome New Mexico's embarrassing scores in reading and math proficiency. Only 41 percent of fourth-graders tested proficient or better in math, for example, and 38 percent in reading.
    Her goal, she said, is to raise awareness of the many achievement gaps revealed by statewide testing.
    "Until you look at it as a community," she said, "it doesn't become real."
    The Highland library tables were filled with people debating answers to questions like "What do you believe are key contributors to the achievement gap in your community?"
    Others asked what parents can do, what students can do, and what the APS board and the state Education Department can do.
    One theme that emerged, from parents, students and community members alike, was that of lowered expectations— and that had been a reality for Garcia as an APS student.
    Although she grew up poor, she said, she went to elementary school with children from wealthy country-club families. Middle school was very different, and by high school, women who are now her colleagues were urged to go to beauty school, and she had to "prove" she could take advanced classes.
    "Expectations, standards and support— I've lived it, I've taught it, I've seen it," she said. "It makes a world of difference."
    Among the many ideas that emerged after people brainstormed and debated:
   

Parents should read to their children, reach out to new parents, come to their kids' classes and get their children up in the mornings.
   

APS needs to raise its expectations of students, address racism felt by some parents on the part of staff and principals, and include more community services at schools to draw in parents.