Gloria Ferris

Mr. Machaskee’s New Year’s Day editorial gave a hope-filled message of what has started in our region, what will continue, and a few things needed to top it all off. But where was the mention of the educational crisis in our city? Everyone knows that the key to the destruction of poverty is education, but there was no mention of appointing an “education czar” or even the importance of hiring a qualified CEO for the city school system. Do we expect to attract new businesses if we cannot show them the benefit of an educated, skilled workforce? Times have changed, but our educational system has not caused us to be years behind other areas, other countries. One of the reasons given for the beginning of the exodus of business from our region in the middle seventies was the impression that our school system would not be able to provide an educated workforce. We have done little to dispel that perception of our school system. Many of us feel that this is a problem that we face alone, but if you read other publications besides the PLAIN DEALER, then you know this is a problem we face as a country and not just in isolated areas.

I think Mr. Machaskee may have had three reasons for not tackling education in his editorial. One, the problem is seen as insurmountable, two, regionalism. and three, lack of space. The problem is not insurmountable given the successess by individual teachers, principals, and individual schools within the city school system. Why are we not building on these successes? Why are these teachers, principals, and school staffs not interacting with other schools so that best practices are implemented throughout the school system? Why are we not playing to the strengths of certain schools and multiplying those successes? How do we speak to the lack of faith the community has because of the mishandling of funds, the destruction of books, the inflated attendance figures? John Kandah in his letter to the editor last week had a terrific idea–hire Bill Denihan. Mr. Denihan has a proven record as a stellar business and government administrator. He would be the perfect person to bring back the stability, security, and professionalism needed to begin the renaissance of the Cleveland City Schools. We have educators in our school system; listen to them. Hire a CEO who has a business administration background and who is not afraid to try new and innovative methods.

The second reason Mr. Machaskee may have had for not mentioning education in his editorial could have been because he mentioned regionalism. Whenever I mention regionalism to my suburban friends who know I live within the city, the first question they ask me is, “By regionalism, you don’t mean the schools, do you?” I believe strongly in local governance of schools, as did our forefathers. Education teaches people to think for themselves, helps them to discern for themselves how the government should work, and what course of action is best for the individual and the community. When control is ceded by local government and given to the state and to the federal government, we begin to lose control of how our children are taught and what they are taught. We need local control of our schools. So no, I do not believe in regionalizing schools, but what if Cleveland had a state-of-the-art school that would prepare students for the future better than any local school could, would regional schools take on a different look and perspective? I believe that with the proper leadership, administration and proper funding the Cleveland School System can again become one of the best in the nation. We were at one time, you know. In fact, when I first came to Cleveland to teach in the city schools in 1973, everyone– teachers, students, parents and residents alike– was proud of the achievements of the City Schools. I believe that those days are achievable again, but it will take everyone’s effort in this community to make it happen. Build a school system that will show the world that Cleveland values its children and their education.

And now, I come to the third possible reason that education was not mentioned in Mr. Machaskee’s editorial, lack of space. Education is just too important to be embedded in a New Year’s editorial recapping what we have done and what needs to be done. Since education is the key to so many opportunities for individuals as well as the city, he knew that it deserved a much wider investigation, and I hope that we see the evidence of his understanding of the issue in the coming months. Now is the time to focus on education and start building a plan that will make our school system a model for other urban areas. We have had the study groups, we have had the community meetings, we know what the problems are, and now is the time to formulate the plan se we can start solving the problems one step at a time. I hope that Mr. Machaskee and the PLAIN DEALER take a leadership role, back Mayor Jackson, who knows the importance of education for the residents of Cleveland, and give a voice to the children of our city.

” Kids lose everything unless there is someone to look after them.”
–Margaret Mead

We need leaders in our community to look out for the kids. We need the PLAIN DEALER to tackle the education issue that affects all of us who live in Cleveland and beyond.