School to Community: What's the Connection?
An op-ed piece by Ellie Multer, of the State Board of Education, in the Thursday edition of the Bangor Daily News sheds light on both the issue of local control and the need for real community connections. “It is not local control but local connection that is relevant to education in today’s context”, she says.
While there’s no doubt that the communities of Dexter, Garland, Exeter and Ripley are supportive of the students in their pursuits, there are questions regarding the District’s failure to include the communities’ values in deliberations regarding the future of MSAD #46.
Why is there a disconnect between the MSAD #46 school community and the community at large?
In the original concept of public education, local schools are supposed to mirror the values and desires of the communities, that should not merely be expected to provide economic and moral support to the system.
“Enabling students to feel connected to their school and supporting the school’s connection to the community are not elements of education that require control of the schools; rather, they require meaningful interactions between the school and the community” (Multer)
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the MSAD #46 leadership has failed to recognize the need for “meaningful interactions” with the communities it presumes to serve, other than on the level required by law. The new school planning should have involved the citizens in real public forums to determine the communities’ desires. It hasn’t happened, and the new school cannot now be considered to be a true representation of the communities’ values.
Parents will undoubtedly support their kids attending the school, as they always will, but is there any question that efforts should have been made to make “the community is the heart of the school” more than just a cynical, self-serving motto for the school district?
While there’s no doubt that the communities of Dexter, Garland, Exeter and Ripley are supportive of the students in their pursuits, there are questions regarding the District’s failure to include the communities’ values in deliberations regarding the future of MSAD #46.
Why is there a disconnect between the MSAD #46 school community and the community at large?
In the original concept of public education, local schools are supposed to mirror the values and desires of the communities, that should not merely be expected to provide economic and moral support to the system.
“Enabling students to feel connected to their school and supporting the school’s connection to the community are not elements of education that require control of the schools; rather, they require meaningful interactions between the school and the community” (Multer)
Unfortunately, in my opinion, the MSAD #46 leadership has failed to recognize the need for “meaningful interactions” with the communities it presumes to serve, other than on the level required by law. The new school planning should have involved the citizens in real public forums to determine the communities’ desires. It hasn’t happened, and the new school cannot now be considered to be a true representation of the communities’ values.
Parents will undoubtedly support their kids attending the school, as they always will, but is there any question that efforts should have been made to make “the community is the heart of the school” more than just a cynical, self-serving motto for the school district?
posted by Art | 2/16/2007 09:05:00 AM
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