An Ode to Our Public School
A story of the little school that could
I know I’m supposed to complain about my children’s public school.
There is so much wrong with our country’s education system — scarce resources, overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating facilities. Too much standardized testing; not enough recess, P.E., music, art. Racial inequities, class inequities. Underpaid, burnt out, and disempowered teachers, unequipped to handle increasing behavioral challenges in the classroom.
I could go on (and on) about the myriad ways in which our public education system is failing our children. But that’s not what I’m going to do today.
Today, I want to tell a story about a public school in Northeast Portland, Oregon that has, against steep odds, forged a thriving community and strong sense of school pride. It’s not a rich school. It’s not a “white school.” In fact, it is designated by the city as a low-income school, and students of color, including my children, make up over 50% of the student body.
The Internet does not give our public school a resounding endorsement. Test scores are low. The school ranks 45 out of 61 Portland public elementary schools, and proficiency in math is deemed “well below average.”
