Dear Editor:
Ruth Tyroler stated that impoverished children do not test as well as more well-off children and that statement is so disheartening to hear from someone in a leadership role within our educational system. If the board and administrators approach their job each day feeling that improving our school’s academic success is a feat that cannot be accomplished, this mindset influences everyone, the parents, teachers, elected officials, paid administrators and most importantly the children who hear these statements.
Do I believe that there is some merit to the idea that some (not all) children from low income families may (not always) have less academic support and rigor at home, and that by not having as much academic support at home this (may) influence overall academic success and test scores? Yes I believe that support for education in the home increases a child’s likelihood of success. Do I believe children from lower income families cannot learn, cannot succeed? NO! And focusing on this point of view does not help us create strategies to overcome real challenges.
Each day we should be thinking, what else can we do to help these kids? How can we fill in the gaps? Can we find grants and resources to supplement what we offer today? Are we talking to administrators from other schools who have made progress with similar demographics? Can we find efficiencies and cost savings in our budget on things that were good initiatives to try but year over year have not been successful or made significant impact and then repurpose those funds to try new programs to enhance and support a learning environment?
All kids can learn. All kids deserve our commitment. The BoE lawsuit against Hola is an example of frivolous use of funds that can be used to provide academic enrichment. The lawsuit is saying with a loud voice to many children in Hoboken, ‘We don’t believe in you!’
As an HoLa parent, I see the constant outreach to inform families of all demographics to see the value in HoLa because we genuinely believe the more diverse the population of students and families the more robust and interesting our program will be. To attack what is working rather than come together to share ideas is a loss for all the kids in town.
There are so many parents in all the charter and public schools who would love to see an intra-school committee work together to share what we each do well to make the others better too. There are many parents who would also love a group who can use that same knowledge, experience, and collaboration to make Hoboken High School a school of excellence, bringing all of the schools diversity of people, perspective and curriculum together to show the state how amazing Hoboken is to live and to learn.
I continue to ask our Hoboken BoE to think with more partnership and innovation, to please drop the lawsuit against HoLa, and use the time and money to work together…for the Kids. We need to do something different, we need change. The kids deserve it. And we all want it for them.
Jen Branco
Hoboken Resident
HoLa Parent