DCPS Takeover Alternative

There has been much discussion over the Mayor’s plan to take over the DC Public School system. The present City Council seems to support the Mayor. Many of my fellow candidates for the Ward 4 are against this plan. What I haven’t heard is any alternative to the Mayors’ Plan. The educational future of our children is at stake. The economic future of the District of Columbia is at stake. We have to get this right.

My proposal for DCPS control is multi-tiered. It involves delegation of responsibility and cooperation between the School Board, City Council, and the Mayor’s office. It also, most importantly involves the Teacher’s Union and it’s members to take a critical self-evaluation of its’ practices and policies. Finally all these organizations and control and review processes won’t mean a thing unless there is an effort to get parents more actively involved in their children’s education.

What the Mayor and City Council can do.

The Mayor and Council are not educators, they are administrators, and as such, I propose that they do just that. Building maintenance, infrastructure and teacher salary scales should be under their control. Increased funding for literacy programs and vocational training would also be under the mayor/council control.

What the Teacher’s Union should do.

The union should do away with the self-serving rules and regulations that protect under performing teachers. A merit system should be put in place that rewards teacher’s who instill a love of learning and sense of civic responsibility. Teaching is not a 9-5 job. At it’s best and purest form it is a lifetime calling. Salaries should reflect this. We cannot expect to attract the best and brightest young educators with pittances. Our children deserve much more

What Parents can do.

We have to get parents more involved in the educational process for their children. In some cases this will be as simple as involvement in the local PTA, for others, the process will include adult–education programs. The most influential person in a child’s development is a parent. It is critical that we, (the Mayor, Council, School Board. Teachers Union) do all that we can to assist parents in this effort