Washington
Just what is education reform? National education
standards? Equity of access? Teacher certification? Curriculum
revision? Better governance? Moreover, do we really need to reconstruct
our educational system?
These were concerns and questions considered by a panel of
education experts along with an interactive audience in “Beyond the
Dream X — A Celebration of Black History.” The live videoconference is
an annual Black History Month tradition for Black Issues In Higher
Education.
Before answering the question of whether the American education
system needs reform, the moderator, Andrea Roane — a news anchor at
WUSA-TV in Washington, D.C., and a former teacher — asked
participating just what the word “reform” means.
Dr. Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the
Great City Schools, noted that everyone has different definitions of
reform. His fellow panelists proved this point by offering definitions
that ranged from classroom achievement and excellent to improved
accessibility and community involvement — all of which require
reallocating resources and increasing participation by all parties.
“Ultimately, what education reform is about in this country is
getting the institution of public education to work on behalf of kids
and their achievement, and to put their learning as the first
priority,” Casserly said. “It’s about how do we arrange and structure
an institution to do that.”
Dr. Barbara A. Sizemore, dean of the school of education of DePaul
University, added, “Reform means dealing with excellence and equity….
But how you do it is what is under discussion. My view is that it has
to take place in a classroom, because that is where the rubber hits the
road.”
