Rapping About School...WHATTTT?

The Only "F" I Get is For "Fantastic Work!"

Click the above link, and then choose "8th Grade Rap" out of the selections for a video on a group of young men who are rapping about the education they are receiving at Amistad Academy.

Amistad Academy is a charter school founded in 1999 with the goal to close the dramatic achievement gap between minority students and white students. If you do not know the difference between a charter school and a public school, charter schools operate independently of the district board of education and are funded by the number of pupils enrolled. The school bases its purpose off of distinct school principles operates on a more child-centered basis than public schools.

I found this video entertaining, as well as inspiring to see young men so enthusiastic about learning! It reminded me about an earlier blog post in which I discussed how incorporating culture into a minority's education results in a higher learning. The connection provides a way for them to freely express themselves in a positive way.

There is much controversy over the success of charter schools over public schools. It is argued that charter school provides students with better teachers in smaller classrooms, which leads to a higher education. Amistad Academy epitomizes the success that can come from minority students enrolled in charter schools and displays their academic achievements, as well as social growth among their peers. The video shows the confidence the students have in completing their schoolwork and how they value actually attending school, which is something that you can't always find in public schools.

Amistad Academy was developed on a list of core elements. The success of the combination of these elements have given the founders the opportunity to expand their educational model by opening twenty new schools through a new organization called Achievement First. Achievement First is a non-profit charter management organization that will base the operation of its schools off of the following elements:

               1. Unwavering focus on the breakthrough of student achievement

               2. Consistent, proven, standards-based curriculum

               3. Interim assessments and strategic use of performance data

               4. Longer school days (1.5 extra hours)

               5. Principals with the power to lead

               6. Increased supervision of quality of education

               7. Disciplined, achievement-oriented school culture

               8. Rigorous, high-quality, focused training for principals & leaders

This leaves me questioning if these "keys to success" are successful in charter schools, why can't the same elements be combined into the educational components of public schools. Although the funding and the ratio of students to teachers may differ in amount, I feel as if these elements are not enough to prevent a whole school from flourishing and educating young, minority students.