Collaboration, Competition and Community voice in School Reform?

Steve Barr seems to be an aggressive reformer of school districts. The founder and leader of Green Dot Schools in Los Angelos, Barr believes that the answer to improving school districts is collaboration or competition. I was introduced to Steve Barr and his Green Dot schools through an article by Amber Arellano in the Detroit April 15, 2008.

My immediate thoughts are questions; which I think is good. The questions are these in no particular order. What does inner-city/urban school reform means after the new wave of gentrification that is moving poorer communities outside of cities? Barr comments on how people in communities he works with want to hug him and become emotional because no one usually asks them to participate in their community. We all, academics to be sure, others of us who know a little about community organizing, know that empowering community members is the key to community change. Then why is that not the standard practice for our educational and state institutions? As the global economy has forgotten about the factory worker, has the country forgotten about its base, its communities? Have we forgotten that it ALL starts with unity on the block, brotherhood and sisterhood on the block, the peoples demands being voiced and met? I think we have.

In the shadows of terrorism battles and increased government control we have been immobilized by fear. In the governments attempt to protect the people they have crippled its only real strength. The people should lead the government because the people are who make the country what it is. But when the people are afraid, lacking in training for community and civic engagement, and too hurried and busy working for health-care and livable wages then the people are ill-prepared to be the citizens they need to be.

The voice of the people should never be seen as in opposition of the government. Because when that is the case then we know that the government is not one of or for the people. This is why at his introduction through Arellano's article, Steve Barr seems to have some pieces of the puzzle right. Collaborate with public schools, and if they hear us not, then compete but at either stage or level we must include the community. We must empower the community. Some may argue that few can do it, as most who do are characterized as dogmatic or charismatic. Well all of us may not feel we have those "-matics" but want to start something, want to be part of something. Do we wait? Do I wait? I guess I can't because my message to others who have asked me has always been, it is the responsibility of those who recognize a need to work to fulfill the deed. So I try.