We can set our standards by criteria or by comparison or a mix. People stating that there are worse conditions in other countries or other parts of America, is by comparison. So if people in Africa don’t have running water, then that’s okay for the people of America? If it’s okay for people to appear in the nude presenting the news in Italy, then that’s okay for America? Many countries have despotic rulers, so that’s okay for America. I could go on ad infinitum giving such examples, but I think you get the drift.

But let’s stay on setting standards by comparison. Why not compare this school against advantaged schools? Why not ask “This advantage school has all these facilities, why not help us to be like them?”. If one constantly uses the setting of standards by comparison then progress is slowed.

Setting standards by criteria tends to make progress and innovation faster. Here are some examples. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Bill Gates, Steve jobs. The question to be asked is “What should be the criteria for having a safe working and learning environment for both teachers and pupils?” Ask this of every public official and keep asking it. Standards can then be set which will take into account certain comparisons.

Clearly the school falls far short of any standards set by criteria or comparison of what’s expected in the American education system. There will be people here who will harp back to the hardships that they endured during their school years. I fail to see what relevance that has to do with the predicament in which this school finds itself. If someone does not have a motor vehicle or the roads are in disrepair do we then say “In my day we had to get around on a horse and buggy and the roads were just dirt tracks”? People will also say that they and others have succeeded despite the early hardships they suffered. And the point is? Many immigrants to Australia have become millionaires and billionaires. Some have been elected into Parliament. Thus all immigrants should be rich or be representing the people.

Change environment and you can change behaviour? These children deserve better if you want better citizens. They deserve a chance in life. Here in Australia there would be an outcry if any school was in such condition. Heads would roll and rightly so. There would be every chance that the authorities/government would be sued for not providing a safe working environment. So those of you who want a comparison, compare this public school in America with public schools in Australia.

Lakia, this is obviously a plea for help and I don’t think that your decision to put pen to paper would have been taken lightly. Wishing you and others every success.