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Joe Weber of Denver writes:

As a school social worker, nearly every day I validate for students that they are jammed up by the gap between of what they need and what’s available.
Whether we consider economic needs, social/emotional needs, or academic needs, the gaps are reality for many of our students. The trick is to prevent them from using that as an excuse.
The Rocky Mountain News series “Leaving to Learn” described the gap between what Denver families need from schools and what’s available. The numbers/reasons regarding students leaving DPS tell a compelling story. But who can tell the story underneath that, the enormous challenge of educating a diverse population with multiple needs? What’s more, can we tell the story without using the difficulties as an excuse? What if the story included the role of poverty in language/cognitive development? What if the story included the developmental battle between the pleasure principle and the reality of schedules, accountability and rigor? What if the story included evidence of social/emotional health as key to academic success, and the time and funding constraints that restrict the delivery of social/emotional supports consistently enough to create a culture where everyone is valued? Telling that story begins with credibility. When I (or any adult) call a student on their behavior and subsequent excuse, the student measures whether I have enough depth to be credible. When we discuss big-picture education, it’s still those with credibility – the families and professionals who have used public schools to get over the wall and are willing to throw the rope back over – who must acknowledge the limitations and excuses, stand up for schools as essential in the shaping of the mental health, character and intellect of every generation, and offer hope.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Such a high quality letter by Joe Weber. It will be interesting to see what the quality of the replies is.

I think he means well, maybe he thinks faster then he types.

Sharon: "I think he means well, maybe he thinks faster then he types."

Boy, is that a relief! So many posters type faster than the think, if at all.

And it could be that he types faster than you think, Sharon.

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