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THE NEW MEXICAN Monday, December 22, 2014
EDUCATION
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Fairy tale programs don’t help schools
the Dais
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Launch of gun safety pledge – a perfect day
whether the most popular turnaround methne of the goals U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan set when he ods — such as replacing the principal — have launched the $3.5 billion School proven effective in the past. The research Improvement Grant (SIG) program indicates that new leadership in 2009 was to turn 1,000 schools practices, not new leaders, are the around annually for five years. “We crucial factor, he said, and assessing could really move the needle, lift their effectiveness is difficult. the bottom and change the lives Some of the turnarounds cited of tens of millions of underserved in the studies Brownstein examchildren,” he said. ined were only a couple of years I like Duncan and much of what old. Such unicorns often disaphe and the Obama administration pear into the mist. Tom Loveless have done for schools, but that goal of the Brookings Institution had Jay Mathews concluded that “examples of largeis a harmful fantasy. The Washington scale, system-wide turnarounds are The overlooked truths about Post nonexistent.” So why would otherfixing schools are vividly revealed wise intelligent education leaders in an Education Writers Associasuch as Duncan put so much faith tion research brief, “What Studies in them? Say About School Turnarounds,” by Andrew Brownstein, a freelance journalI think the problem is representative ist who reports on federal education policy. democracy. Your schools can’t get money for (Turnaround schools are those whose low new programs unless elected officeholders achievement rates have been significantly agree. Politicians demand optimistic goals, improved by a change in operations.) or they can’t sell the program to voters and to enough legislators to gain a majority. Rep. Brownstein said “successful turnarounds George Miller, D-Calif., who helped forge the are extremely rare.” Veterans of education bipartisan majority that passed the No Child reform efforts “might be forgiven for thinkLeft Behind Act in 2001, said they had to set ing of turnarounds as the unicorns of federal a goal of 100 percent proficiency in reading education policy,” he said. and math — an impossible target. If they setWe don’t know how many turnarounds tled for a more reasonable number, such as have occurred since SIG began, but it is far, 70 percent, opponents would say they were far less than a thousand a year, and what first leaving 30 percent of kids behind. look like turnarounds may prove to be disapBy predicting 1,000 turnarounds a year, pointments. With the meager studies availDuncan secured funds he knew would help able, Brownstein said all he could do was see
Keen on acting
teachers and students, even if they never reached his unlikely goal. Media fact checkers such as my colleague Glenn Kessler don’t usually critique hopeful guesses because miracles, like the collapse of the Soviet Union or my birdie on a par-5 last week, sometimes happen. I have criticized Washington, D.C., Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson’s plan to raise achievement in the 40 lowest-performing schools by 40 percentile points in six years, but she needs that loony goal to get some of that federal money for her schools. Everyone has been forced to play that game for many decades. There are better ways to improve schools than turnarounds. Many charter and experimental public schools have shown it makes more sense to create new schools with no old bad practices to expunge. Students and teachers can start fresh. A 2006 NewSchools Venture Fund study cited by reform expert Andy Smarick found only four of 36 organizations with strong records in improving school achievement had expressed interest in restructuring existing schools. KIPP, a charter school network, has produced scores of schools that outperform others with similarly disadvantaged students trying the turnaround approach. Some educators have criticized KIPP for never turning around an existing school, which to me is like criticizing quarterback Peyton Manning for almost never using a huddle in his successful speeded-up offense. If new ways work better, why insist on the old?
New Mexico School for the Arts student named a YoungArts Finalist
By Robert Nott The New Mexican
J
asper Keen’s hair looked like a small, out-of-control wildfire on a recent December morning. His smile — a constant fixture — reminds one of a perpetually happy Warner Bros. cartoon character. A slight, limber guy — Keen claims that when people hug him, they can actually clasp their arms behind his back — he was proudly wearing a YoungArts T-shirt despite the morning chill. The attire was appropriate given Keen has been selected as a 2015 YoungArts Finalist by the National YoungArts Foundation, which spotlights teen artists ages 15 to 18 in various fields, including theater. Since its establishment in 1981, it has honored more than 20,000 young artists with over $6 million in monetary awards and helped facilitate over $150 million in college scholarships. Notable YoungArts alumni include actresses Viola Davis and Anna Gunn, recording artists Judith Hill and Chris Young, and novelist Sam Lipsyte. Keen, a junior studying theater at the New Mexico School for the Arts, auditioned for the YoungArts honor with two videotaped monologues. The first, from Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, allowed him to display his physical and vocal comedy skills, while the second, from Elizabeth Swados’ dramatic musical Runaways, allowed him to showcase his serious side. In January, he flies to Miami with other YoungArts finalists for an all-expenses-paid trip to take master classes with renowned theater professionals and work on his monologues. Not bad for a kid who started his acting career shadowing an actress playing Caliban in a 2010 Theaterwork production of The Tempest. He’s performed in about 20 theater shows, from
Viewpoints on education
M
y perfect morning began at De Vargas Middle School, a public school for which I pay with my taxes. What a delight it was to see the principal, Marc Ducharme, outside the school entrance greeting students. He seemed to have something personal to say to each student. I had arrived as a volunteer for New Mexicans for Gun Safety to help launch the Student Pledge against gun violence. As I arrived, so did Dr. Joel Boyd, MY VIEW superintendent of schools, riding a school bus. He had spent the early K. ELISE PACKARD morning experiencing how many of the students get to school, calling attention to the need for motorists to respect rules that help ensure the safety of students boarding and exiting school buses. I was grateful that my tax dollars make possible both transportation for schoolchildren and a superintendent who goes the extra mile. Soon Mayor Javier Gonzales, police Chief Eric Garcia and school board President Steve Carrillo arrived. All were there together to encourage the students to solve their problems without the use of guns and violence. Dr. Boyd made it clear that the decision to sign the pledge was up to each student. It was a privilege for me as a citizen volunteer to work alongside Theresa Baca, who heads the student wellness department of our public schools. The gathered group provided a variety of role models for the students, and as the students stepped up, each was a role model for me. I volunteer with the Interfaith Coalition for Public Education, and in our action, we encourage the alignment of not-for-profit, private sector and city resources to provide excellent schools for all of our students. On this morning, in this public school, in our city, I experienced payback for my volunteer efforts and my tax dollars. Aligned action for the common good is priceless. This action and the students’ courage made possible for me a perfect morning. K. Elise Packard, Ph.D., identifies herself as a citizen, voter and taxpayer who is volunteering with the Interfaith Coalition for Public Education and New Mexicans for Gun Safety.
Eldorado’s school shines
I Jasper Keen, 16, of Santa Fe rehearses a monologue from The Comedy of Errors on Friday at the New Mexico School for the Arts. Keen was selected as a 2015 YoungArts Finalist for the National Young Arts Foundation. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
Into the Woods to Little Shop of Horrors. The latter gave him the chance to play the sadistic dentist and experience the dark side of humanity. “Being an actor teaches you a lot about what it means to be a person,” he said during an interview at the school on the last day of class before winter break. “It teaches you empathy; you can see where your characters come from.” Acting, he said, allows him to play a lot of different roles and be a bad guy. “If I weren’t an actor, I’d have to try everything … except heroin.” He likened acting to “legalized crime.” As it is, he considered a career as a con man. “That’s the same thing as being an actor,” said Keen’s theater director, Joey
SmartBoard SANTA FE SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR WINTER BREAK Santa Fe Public Schools’ facilities are closed this week and next for winter break, as is the Santa Fe Community College campus and the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Most private and charter schools also follow this schedule, reopening Monday, Jan. 5. Check individual school websites for details. NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS STUDENT CHOSEN AS AMBASSADOR New Mexico School for the Arts student Kayleigh Warren of Santa Clara
Chavez, who sat in on the interview. He praised Keen’s work ethic and sense of humor and called him very “directable.” He said the YoungArts recognition will help Keen when it comes to applying to acting conservatories and colleges. “They recognize the dedication and hard work you put into it just to get it right. And you gotta have talent, too,” he said. Chavez encouraged Keen to audition for YoungArts and directed his videotaped monologues. Keen was home-schooled until he entered the state-chartered New Mexico School for the Arts as a freshman 2½ years ago. That early education included walking the beaches of Hawaii while spouting snippets of Plato’s phi-
losophy, he said. He loves to surf. “Thousands of pounds of ocean around you, and if you mess up, you hit lava,” he said. He plans to make a career out of acting. To him, success means being one of those performers you see in character roles on stage and on TV without knowing their names. “They take on their roles so well that the public and press don’t recognize them,” he said. “They just think, ‘He’s doing his job. He’s a working actor.’ ” Santa Fe University of Art and Design student Cabria Scott, a Houston native, was also named a YoungArts finalist, in singing. Contact Robert Nott at 986-3021 or rnott@sfnewmexican.com.
’d like to give a huge nod of thanks and appreciation to the Santa Fe Public Schools system for providing exemplary learning for our daughter at El Dorado Community School, a kindergarten-througheighth-grade school. The K-8 system provides a very positive experience for our youth and allows them to stay and learn in familiar surMY VIEW roundings, and at the same time avoid the social pressures of movGERALD LANCE BELL ing to a new school. We are fortunate to have a beautiful, remodeled school to attend with an amazing library, bright cafeteria, top-notch gymnasium and most importantly, fantastic educators. A particular shoutout goes to the music curriculum where all students are able to experience choir, band, string orchestra and piano. I was surprised to see our daughter come home with a brand-new violin and then a clarinet, each provided for a quarter to see if orchestra or band were the right fit. Instruments are provided to all students, and each child has a chance to explore if he or she likes band, orchestra or choir. After her exposure to both, she ended up focusing on her singing voice in choir. Now, in addition to choir as a seventh-grader, she has almost an hour of piano every day. In a short time, she has learned to play amazingly well. I have friends with children in private schools that can’t rival what the Santa Fe Public Schools system has to offer. As a parent of a child at El Dorado Community School, they get an easy A grade from me! Gerald Lance Bell is a proud third-generation Santa Fean who attended Santa Fe Public Schools. His family operated Bell’s department store on San Francisco Street from 1926 to 1984. He is married to Julia Bell, and they have one daughter, Jacqueline.
Education news and events
Pueblo was chosen to serve as the pueblo’s Tribal Youth Ambassador at the 2014 Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. She and Santa Clara Pueblo Gov. J. Michael Chavarria voiced concerns that the pueblo has at the conference, which invited all 56 federally recognized tribes to join with White House council in a discussion of tribal affairs. ATC STUDENTS RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER VICTIMS Students from the Academy for Technology and the Classics raised $500 last month in a Glow Relay Race for The
University of New Mexico’s Children’s Oncology Program to help fight cancer. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2014, 15,780 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 years will be diagnosed with cancer, and 1,960 will die of the disease in the United States. NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT ESSAYS HONORED Santa Fe Public Schools announced the winners of its Native American Heritage Month essay writing competition, in which students chose from several themes including Native American mascots, Native American
traditions, the significance of tribal sovereignty, a famous Native American person or a current Native issue and how it impacts society. The district reports more than 460 Native American students enrolled in its schools. In grades K-3, Glory B. Fowler won for “The Long Walk As I Know It,” while Treselle Rodriguez won honorable mention. In grades 4-8, Armando Martinez Brito won for “Disrespectful Mascots.” Honorable mention went to Nolan Hall, Hardie Bloodworth, Carmen Pacheco and Mahko Hauzous.
In grades 9-12, Justin Cummings won for an essay on contemporary Native American issues, while Nathan Vigil and Grecia Morales Vega received honorable mention. Winners received a monetary gift card, a certificate of honor and a Native American gift, and were honored during a celebration on Dec. 2. Got tidbits or news briefs for SmartBoard? Email them to Robert Nott at rnott@sfnewmexican.com. SmartBoard runs every Monday on the Education page.