A New Bridge Between Schools is Formed
The following is taken from Mr. O’Neil’s closing remarks on June 8th at the final joint session with SPS for the SACS / SPS Dissemination Project
Charter Schools were established for the primary purpose of serving a research and development function for the larger educational community. The Department of Education traded freedom from bureaucracy for a promise of innovative practices that could be disseminated widely. Plagued with misinformation, misunderstanding, and distrust, charter schools quickly were perceived as a threat and the subjects of animosity within the districts. It seemed pretty arrogant for a fledgling charter school to be lecturing a well established district system, and it became clear quickly that the great challenge for charter schools in Massachusetts was to earn the faith of the general public and to develop a collegial relationship with the district schools.
As charter schools began to demonstrate some success, Paul Grogan, Chairman of The Boston Foundation, posed the question, “Are charter schools independent educational boutiques, or are they the leading edge of a new delivery system?” Actually, I do not think that matters. What does matter is that we have a choice of schools in each community, collectively serving the diverse needs and interests of the student population. The reality is that we will always depend on our district schools as the anchor of the educational options in every community.
As I said in my welcoming remarks here last September, we are all in the same business, and we share the same goals. Salem Academy Charter School and the Salem Public Schools share the same mission of serving the diverse student population of Salem. We are both preparing students for college, careers, and citizenship. And we both believe that a good school is the result of a clearly defined curriculum, good teaching, and a school culture that supports learning.
There are some universal truths. People, programs, and resources define schools. An effective school involves partnership with parents. Trust and mutual respect are essential elements of an ethical school community. Frailty is part of the human condition. Inclusiveness and collaboration are hallmarks of leadership.
While this is the closing formal session of the Dissemination Project as it was designed with “Think Tanks” and “Study Tours”, our work will continue through the summer and into next year as theory becomes practice in SPS classrooms. So far, this has been very much a two way street. The opportunity to have nationally regarded speakers here at this little school, the opportunity to refine and define our own practice in standards based instruction well enough to share it, and the opportunity to engage in professional discourse with our Salem Public School colleagues has been a true learning experience for us.
I would prefer not to consider this a closing session. In contrast, I invite you all to consider this a welcoming session, a beginning of a collaborative relationship between our schools that could take many forms for the benefit of all. Today, we are a Professional Learning Community focused on Standards Based Instruction. Let’s create some more of these PLC’s. We share many common concerns from curriculum and instruction to family inclusion and celebrating diversity. This is the tip of the iceberg. The power in our schools is in the collective wisdom and experience of the people in the classrooms and the hallways every day. Let’s talk to each other. Thank you all for being here with us these past 10 months.
