Today, we met at the Iowa City Public Library and discussed the introduction and first essay in Mike Rose's book, Why School? In particular, we discussed the idea of collectivism versus individualism as a basis for public education policies.
We then went to a local Iowa City elementary school and talked to the principal about the climate in Iowa City as the school board prepares to change enrollment boundaries to meet the needs of the community growth and redistribution. This principal shared with us the complicated and emotional process of accommodating upwards of 60-plus students last August as two schools were put on the SINA list in town. This principal's school was the destination of all the students of schools on the east side of town who opted out of their SINA schools. The principal shared with us stories of helping families, staff, and--most importantly--kids navigate the changes involved in school growth. She lamented her lack of time to work with her staff to address everything from physical space for new classes to cultural competency about new students, as the changes to her school came fast and furious within two weeks of the start of the school year last fall. The principal told us that only in the past two weeks (with less than four weeks left in the school year) has she felt like the atmosphere at the school has settled and the apprehensive tension she felt all year had subsided. I was grateful for her time, her candor, and her honesty about the pain, anger, and frustration associated with policy decisions that touch some many lives.
[I'm DISTRACTED by hour FOUR of the Iowa City School Board meeting currently running live on public access television. I just watched the board members spend 30 minutes voting and voting against another work session to discuss boundary changes. Once it was determined that they would NOT have a work session, they are now...getting to work. :) Hour FOUR!!]
Tomorrow: A Right Denied. Secret Readers. And considering private versus public school teaching.
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