Features

Us Against Them!: By MICHAEL D. MILLER

Commentary
Friday September 10, 2004

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Our current School Board election has brought to the surface an issue that, if not looked upon with clarity and a positive perspective, could make this race contentious.  

Karen Hemphill and Kalima Rose have been characterized as “small schools advocates” by local press. Karen has not participated in any small schools effort but is fortunate to have her oldest son in a small school this year. Kalima has been very active in the Communication Arts and Sciences small school as well as an important member of the Superintendent’s Small Schools Advisory. Even with that, it is shortsighted to say that either of them are small schools advocates. It is more appropriate that they be identified as school reform advocates, as they both champion the kind of reform that will give all of our students the support they need to be successful.  

Supporting all students is a Berkeley value. Our community’s commitment to each and every student needs to be clear, decisive and demonstrated by our actions, not just our rhetoric.  

The question for Berkeley residents is how do “we” realize the vision of success for all students? Currently, the small schools reform movement at BHS is the only significant movement designed to realize this vision. These two candidates support this strategy.  

As I’ve considered this, I’ve come up with a list of what needs to be kept in mind as one reflects on small schools as a reform strategy.  

• Small schools are not the goal. School reform is the goal.  

• Our goal is to have schools that more successfully meet the needs of all students in our district.  

• Our goal is to implement schools that value all students and develop creative strategies to meet the needs of each student.  

• Small schools are a strategy to help us realize school reform – the kind of needed reforms that have been well documented by the Diversity Project and WASC and FCMAT and our standardized test results.  

• Small schools help us focus our intention on success for each student.  

• Small schools help us become more deliberate about the educational services that we offer our students.  

• Small schools help us put the “PUBLIC” back in public education by supporting collaboration amongst teachers, students, parents and other community members/organizations.  

• Small schools allow for strong relationships within the school community, reducing distress and conflict.  

• Small schools allow much greater potential for monitoring and evaluating student success.  

If there are other viable solutions for broad student success in our district, bring them forward so that our entire community will benefit. Regardless of whether we choose to use a “small schools” model or some other strategy, we Berkeley residents must use our collective energy and determination to make all students successful. They are our most valued communal asset.  

Michael D. Miller 

Berkeley High School parent