I Get to See Geoffrey Canada!

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Don't know who he is?  Well you should...he is the founder and CEO of Harlem Children's Zone--one of the most innovative and promising education systems working to end the cycle of generational poverty in America today.  He has taken poor, under-educated children and families in Harlem and produced amazing academic results.

He was recently named one of "America's Best Leaders" by the US News and World Report.  He was also featured in the movie Waiting for "Superman"--which you should see if you haven't already.

Basically, you cannot have a conversation about how to fix education in America without mentioning his name.

Can you tell I'm excited!?

He is speaking tomorrow from 12:30-1:30 at the Brookland Baptist Conference Center as part of a fundraiser for the Eau Claire Promise Zone.  Click here for the invitation.  Not sure if there are seats left, but possibly...

I have a baby shower this weekend too--can't wait to see so many family and friends in one room celebrating Jones' impending birth with me!  Then, on Sunday, James and I plan to go do some baby shopping at Buy Buy Baby--haven't been there yet, but I hear it's amazing.  And, then we're going to see Love and Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.  Anyone seen it yet?



XO, and Happy Weekend (almost)!  What are your weekend plans?

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Waiting for "Superman"

It was just as appalling as I anticipated...and definitely made me want to go back to teaching in the public school system.  This movie is a call to action, and I certainly hope it is an eye-opener for those who see it.



The Nickelodeon is showing the film through next Wednesday, November 24th.  Tonight's
5:30 showing will be followed by a TalkBack with members of City Year and next Tuesday's 5:30 showing will be followed by a TalkBack with SC Superintendent of Education, Jim Rex.  You should really go see it.

The film didn't offer a panacea for the deepseated ills of our public education system, but it did proffer some ideas--like KIPP School ideals or Harlem Children's Zone and Geoffrey Canada's ideas.  I have read the book Work Hard. Be Nice., about the 2 KIPP School founders, Feinberg and Levin, and it inspired me.  This book made me want to go back to teaching--it made me want to go apply to teach a t a KIPP School.  These schools are working. 

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But, how feasible is it to make the school day longer and the school year longer?  How feasible is it to start teaching students and their parents in a formalized way as soon as they are conceived, as in Canada's "Baby College"?  It will take a lot of convincing to the beaurocrats involved in changing laws and the way the education system works for major changes to be made.

One of the most telling statistics in the film--and the one that should stick with and inspire change for both liberals and conservatives alike--showed how much it costs to support a prisoner in the US for the average prison-stay of 4 years, compared to how much it costs to send a child top a private school for grades 1-12.  It costs $24,000 more to pay for the prison time.  Enough.

Go see the film; let me know what you think.  Take action.  Our children are worth it.

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Waiting for "Superman"

If you have not heard of this movie, you must watch the trailer...



Scary stuff.  I really hope this comes somewhere close to Columbia, SC--so far I haven't been able to find anything on-line about where it will be released.  It opens this Friday in select cities.

I truly believe that most of our social problems in this country stem from our failing public school system, and in SC's case, our very under-funded public school system. 

Take the pledge to view this film--click on the Pledge Now button in the sidebar.

Anyone have any thoughts on the movie trailer--any idea where it may be showing near here?  Will you go see it?

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