By Larry Grau
(From Indianapolis Star, April 23rd, 2012)
You sometimes hear public officials say we need to “take the politics out of education.” While I understand the intent — to set aside partisan differences when it comes to education — it fails to take into account a harsh reality of our system. Politics, for better or worse, are entrenched in education.
The only way to turn around failing schools and provide the best education possible for our kids is through political action. Voters have the authority to choose the decision-makers who shape the policy debate. But without this action, the status quo will prevail, rest assured.
Just look at the political undercurrents driving the debate about the future of Indianapolis Public Schools. While it may not be “Big P” partisan politics playing out, it’s clear leaders of IPS are engaged in the kind of political tactics that come with protecting power and defending the system that gives them their authority. Case in point is Eugene White’s presentation last week. His plan was short on actual reform measures and long on defensive messaging. The closest to reform White got was a call to cut 15 positions from the central office and provide some schools with “semi-autonomous” status.
These tweaks to the system pale in comparison to the comprehensive plan rolled out by The Mind Trust, which spelled out major changes like:
.Engaging parents and families by giving them a true choice of quality educational options, where nonperforming schools are replaced with schools held accountable for meeting the needs of every student;
.Shifting funding from a bloated administrative budget to pay for free preschool;
.Giving more authority to principals and teachers — provided there’s strong classroom performance — by empowering them to make critical decisions at the school level.
To me, the question of who has the better vision for IPS is obvious. It’s The Mind Trust. While their plan may not be perfect, it touches on several major principles that have proven in the past to turn around failing schools. While IPS does have some quality programs and a core of incredibly dedicated educators, the incremental progress White continues to defend simply won’t do. Four out of every 10 students in IPS are failing to graduate. We have a system-wide crisis that requires bold change.