Barriers to Student Achievement

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TFA Alumnus Describes Barriers to Student Achievement

The following is by Frank Beard, a graduate of Drake University and a former Teach For America corps member (Kansas City ’08). He taught middle school science, social studies, and communication arts in the Kansas City, Missouri School District.

A large number of this country’s schools are failing its students—but not in the way that many columnists, education reformers, or school experts would have you believe.

From 2008 to 2010, I taught at the middle school level in Kansas City as a Teach For America corps member. But don’t worry, I’m not going rehash Freedom Writers, and I certainly won’t tell one of those sappy “this is why I Teach For America” stories.

Instead, I want to offer some very candid thoughts about why I think my district and school were such abysmal failures.

When people ask me what I believe was the number one barrier to student achievement at my school, I always offer the same answer: the failure of the school and district to address chronically disruptive students. It was a problem created by negligent leaders who willingly allowed a free-for-all environment that was conducive to chaos instead of learning.

more . . . http://www.anurbanteacherseducation.com/2011/02/tfa-alumnus-describes-barriers-to.html?showComment=1297477875794#c1445842211188703668

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City police and firefighters are investigating after three fires occurred at Southwest Early College Campus at 6512 Wornall Road late Friday morning.

The most disruptive of the fires was about 11:30 a.m., when a fire was reported in a second-floor break room. Fire crews quickly put out the fire. No injuries were reported.

Students were allowed back inside the building about 12:15 p.m.

Battalion Chief Joe Vitale said there were a total of three fire calls at the school on Friday. Vitale said the first fire was in a first-floor locker room trash can. The second fire appeared to have been started in a ream of paper in a second-floor break room. And while police and firefighters were investigating the second fire, a third fire was set, also in a locker.

Extra police were called to the school because at least 10 fights broke out after students were allowed back into the school following the second fire. Eight students were detained, according to police.

more . . . http://www.kmbc.com/news/26834769/detail.html