Waiting for Superman

I'm not a documentarian. So, it's certainly possible that I lack a true understanding of the purpose of Waiting for Superman, the recently released film getting so much attention. The film is effective in painting a frightening portrait of the state of American public schools. However, in my opinion, the simplicity with which this portrait is painted actually impedes further conversation on the issue.

The movie explains it simply: public schools are awful, there are not enough spaces in high quality charter schools, and teacher unions prevent reform in the public system.

I know DC far better than the other cities depicted in the film, so I'll focus on those aspects of the movie that relate to my city and Anthony, the DC student depicted in the film. I have two major issues with the film.

1) The SEED School was not Anthony's only option. While DC struggles to improve the quality of all public schools, they also have a process through which students can apply for placement in an out-of-boundary public school. Deal, Hardy, and Stuart-Hobson all offer stronger options within the public system. This is not to say the current system is even remotely satisfactory, but the SEED or misery dichotomy created by the film seems manipulative and dishonest.

2) The most egregious spin in the film related to words about Sousa Junior High. In the film, The Washington Post is quoted as calling Sousa, "an academic sinkhole." To provide background on DC Public Schools' struggles, the film cuts to Jason Kamras, DCPS' Head of Human Capital. Only moments after we hear about Sousa, Kamras speaks about the ways unions prevent real school-based reform. Kamras' opinions are given extra weight when we're told that he is a former National Teacher for the Year. A key fact is ignored: Kamras received the honor for the school-wide improvements he was able to lead at that same sinkhole, Sousa Junior High.

I am a believer in action over talk, and I hesitate to question a film that is getting so many people talking about the education reform movement. However, the challenge is real. We do a disservice by acting as though the solutions are simple. Teachers, unions, parents, activists, and students must all be involved in our solutions. Demonizing some of those groups in our efforts to find a way forward impedes true conversations about the complexities of education reform. These conversations must involve good public schools, great public school teachers, and progressive unions as well as bad teachers, stubborn unions, and high quality charters - these things all exist.

Geoffrey Canada, an incredible figure in the effort to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged youth, makes a statement in Waiting for Superman. To paraphrase, he says, "When I started this work, I thought it was easy. I thought it would take 2-3 years to fix it, the whole nation!"

Luckily, for us, he realized it wasn't so simple.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope that this film leads more people to get involved in improving public education. Rather than simply pledging to see the film, I hope inspired viewers pledge to get involved - read to children, mentor youth, and tutor teens. We know it takes one caring adult to make a major difference, and you can't make that difference from a movie theater in the nice part of town.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mark