A Memphis school has the answer

Some of the public schools in Nashville’s Metro school system are failing to meet state and national standards. Ever since we have been in Tennessee politicians have been trying to remedy this situation. Most are opposed to Charter Schools, many are opposed, too, to pre-kindergarten. They often blame poverty, which I admit is a problem, and throw money at the schools. Money rarely fixes problems!

According to the Beacon report Metro schools reported spending  $11,000 per student and actually spent $14,000.  Williamson County which has the best schools in the state, three to four of which are named yearly in the top 10 high schools in the nation, reported spending $8,000 and actually spent $9,000.

Last Sunday’s Insight forum had two columns regarding the problems of educating inner city kids.

I responded with the following letter. The section in italics was deleted.

A Memphis school has the answer

I read with great interest Sunday’s (Aug. 6, 2017) point-counterpoint columns regarding young workers, Tennessee Promise and the HOPE scholarship.

In addressing the need for more skilled workers, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen quoted professor Eric Hanushek as saying, we need more young workers “with general cognitive skills that give workers the ability to adapt to new circumstances and new jobs.”

Tennessee Promise’s approach is like waiting to treat cancer until stage four rather than preventing it. The time to build these skills is prior to graduation from high school. Our efforts must be directed at improving our schools.

Writer Vrondelia Chandler tells us that poverty, dysfunctional families and chaotic, violent neighborhoods are obstacles to success and create failing schools. Yet, Newsweek’s 2015 list of the nation’s best high schools noted that 20 of the 500 best schools had more than 50 percent of their students living in poverty.

Even more enlightening was Hollis F. Price Middle College High School in Memphis. This school has the worst poverty rate at 80.9 percent, a 100 percent graduation rate, 100 percent of its students college bound, and 77.4 percent “college-ready.”

What secret does this school have? Can other schools emulate its success?

I have asked these questions, in prior letters to the editor (unpublished), and suggested the Tennessean or the Metro School Board send someone to Memphis to find the answers. It is time to replicate their success. For when schools graduate kids like those from Hollis F. Price, both Tennessee Promise and HOPE scholarships will be successful.”

Parnell Donahue, Brentwood 37027

Why is its that people refuse to look at what leads others to success and insist on re-inventing the wheel. Our children are too valuable and  education too important to keep doing things that have not worked in the past.

If you know of a school that is failing it’s students have  them contact Hollis F. Price Middle College High School in Memphis and find out how your schools can mimic their success.