By Jocelyn Huber
In contrast to some of the polarizing political and ideological battles raging over American education policy in which adults’ interests and power struggles seem to be paramount, or showdowns like those in Wisconsin where, whatever one thinks of the merits of either side’s arguments, the interests of adults are the only thing that seems to matter, let’s take a moment to recognize what is possible when everyone involved puts children first.
A recent Education Week article about Palmer Park Preparatory Academy in Detroit illustrates how reform works when adults come together first and foremost in the interest of better education for children.
According to Ed Week reporter Stephen Sawchuk, Palmer Park is:
“the result of an almost unheard of cooperation “among teachers, the local teachers’ union, the central administration, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the educational publisher hired in fall 2009 to revamp Detroit’s curriculum. Teachers are gradually assuming administrative duties to become the city’s first teacher-led school. An extended day…gives the staff time every afternoon to compare teaching strategies. And finally, a new, pilot schedule for 7th and 8th graders lets teachers regroup the middle school students in different English/language arts and math classes frequently, based on the students’ performance.”