…Remembering Hope in reflecting on my child’s and Camden Students’ educational journey
It’s been one hell of a week. The Orange Demon is threatening to not accept the results of the upcoming 2020 presidential election if he loses to Joe Biden; Breonna Taylor’s murderers (the Louisville Police) were let go with no measure accountability worth noting thanks to Republican Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron; armed white right-wing militiamen were coordinating crowd control with police in Oregon, and the “balance” of the US Supreme Court is assuredly due to be tilted even further to the Right with the confirmation of the Orange Demon’s appointment to the Court, Amy Coney Barrett, following the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For sure, it’s been a hell of a week.
Fortunately for my own sanity, there have been some bright spots which are every bit as worth recognizing as the moments that cause dispair, rage, and sadness. For one, I was able to forward the message of our One Camden United (www.onecamdenunited.org) slate for Camden City Board of Education by canvassing throughout my community which always reminds me how vital our public schools are to our city. I made some headway working with a team of folks attempting to confront and tackle a predatory educational injustice imposed on my city by former Governor Chris Christie, former NJ Department of Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, former superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard, former Camden mayor Dana Redd, and handsomely-paid education reform mercenary, Bing Howell. (That’s a hint.) And if that wasn’t enough to restore sanity and joy to my week, more local and personal to my life and that of my household, my daughter who’s in her senior year, finally got a job! (Thank you Panera Bread!)
For my wife and I, upon hearing our onliest baby say “I got the job”, brought immense joy to the both of us and for varying reasons I suspect. While my wife commented that our daughter “is getting older”, and is “growing up so fast” which prompted us both to exchange memories when times were much more tenuous… and difficult… and uncertain… and trying…where, as two young unprepared parents, neither had an idea what the future would look like for each other, our child, or us as a family – everything was in doubt.
But here we sit in the midst of Trump-ian, coronavirus-ridden, racist America, parents to a beautiful young lady who will be graduating at the end of this year, and currently weighing the opportunity costs of going to Rutgers University, Princeton, or Camden County College. (And for a variety of reasons, we’re equally comfortable with whatever choice.) Yet as I reflected upon how our child was growing and meeting the challenges of young adulthood, my mind drifted in two directions: one, how thankful I am for the impact Camden schools had on my daughter, and two, how given the current pandemic environment, our Camden students are still finding a way to still be their best.
Mentally going down memory lane: I began my career in public education as a permanent substitute at Veterans Memorial Middle School in January 2004 and transitioned into teaching full-time at Woodrow Wilson High School later that September. My daughter and wife moved from their apartment in Glassboro, to our current home in Parkside I was able to buy in April 2007, thanks to my job with the District. We enrolled our child in one of our District’s few Pre-K classes at Cooper’s Poynt in September 2007 and, since four years old, my child has been in our city’s public schools. And though the experience has not been perfect (as perfection in schooling children does not exist no matter where a child attends school), there’s not been a day I regretted the decision to have my child educated here.
She’s grown into herself in Camden’s public schools. She developed relationships with Camden staff members (not just teachers) who watched over her, advised her, connected her with opportunities, corrected her, cared for her, and of course, educated her. For me, it’s quite a thing to remember the days where my daughter sat in my own classroom on days where her school may have had a half-day, and I, working in high school, had a full day. Remembering how my high school students, my neighbors and akin to extended family would ask, “That’s your daughter?”, “Yup“, and just vibe with her, making her feel comfortable and part of the bunch. Eventually, someone would get around to asking: “Where’s she go to school? Charter?” and react in disbelief when I replied, “Hell nah. She goes to public school here at Cooper’s Poynt just like everyone else.”
Before long, which seemed like only yesterday, she transitioned from middle school to high school at Brimm Medical Arts High School, played volleyball and softball for Camden High, as well as managed the Camden High Marching Band for one year, managed the girls basketball team for two. She volunteered at her school’s Chowhound House where they take care of, and care for, both pet and rescue dogs. And now, here she is ready to start her first “real job” tomorrow, graduate from high school in the near future, and begin college in a few short months. Aside from recognizing the Lord’s Grace over our child’s journey and our parental influence, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the positive impact of Camden’s schools, it’s staff, and students on my daughter. To be sure, it’s been a beautiful journey though perhaps, too brief.
And while one might reflexively respond that Camden schools were beneficial for my daughter because I work in the District and such experiences aren’t universally apparent, not only would that be incorrect, but full of pride, I know and have seen that my daughter’s experience in our schools is far from an anomaly, but actually pretty common. See for instance: Preston Brown, Arnetta Johnson, Rashan Prailow, Yasmin Rigney-Nelson , and literally so, so many others.
Far from the pejorative stereotypes of urban public school students that depict them as academically deficient and having low expectations for themselves, anyone intimately familiar with our Camden students know how bright and beautiful they, and their futures, are. They are committed to being their best, and working toward bettering themselves. While so many are juggling various challenges that could easily derail one’s drive and commitment to succeed, our Camden students steadfastly grind it out and figure out a way. (Ridiculous that some edu-commenters have the gall to remark that students like ours lack, and need, “grit”.) Our students are working to better themselves while caring for younger siblings, or older parents, or immigrant grandparents. (Have you ever noticed how amazing it is to see students serve as translators for gaurdians in schools, social service buildings etc.?) Our students: regularly catch cabs to school, work while student-ing to help their households function, while staying on top of their academic responsibilities.
Camden’s students’ commitment to their aspirations haven’t changed even in the midst of this pandemic that has infected 7M Americans and killed over 200,000 people – our kids are still pushing. Common it is for our students, who are working remotely and dismissed by 1:30pm to use that time to job hunt, and once hired, get some extra hours in. Our Camden students continue to amaze those who care to notice. Most of our seniors, by far, are planning on continuing their education beyond high school. And while some myopic commentators (some of whom look like us), are nonetheless programmed and conditioned to see our students through a deficit lens, fixating on what they may be lacking by middle-class white standards of what being educated looks like, a la test scores and conceptions of “proficiency”, according to Tara Yosso, Professor of Education at University of California-Riverside, when obsessing over what our students are not, we miss so many educationally valid, though less quantifiable, skills our students possess that will lead them continue their successes both academically, and in life. I agree.
So yeah, this week was a roller coaster of disappointment and disbelief, however predictable, but what never gets old for me personally is marveling over the progress my daughter is making throughout it all, and knowing in that, she’s far from alone. Our Camden public schools, in our students, turn out a hell of a product. We need to remember that, in the midst of all this craziness around us, our kids are gonna be alright.
