By Joseph McHenry
Over
time, a comprehensive education has become a prerequisite for many careers. In
this period of economic instability, education has become a vital determinant. Without a high school diploma and often
without some level of advanced study, many people are finding it near
impossible to secure a well-paying job. However, thousands of kids each year drop out of Buffalo high
schools and just as many grade school children are receiving substandard
schooling at a critical early age.
On February 5th, Youth Leadership Erie County (YLEC) met to
discuss the issue of education in Western New York and ways in which education
can better serve our region’s future.
Our meeting took place at Enterprise Charter
School. Charter schools like
Enterprise are a fairly new idea.
These schools are funded through public money, but do not follow the
same rules and regulation as normal public schools. Many enterprise students come from the inner city and
Enterprise gives them a place where they can feel wanted and intellectually nurtured. Enterprise provides these students with
individualized attention during grammar school and keeps them in a safe
environment, allowing them to develop the tools necessary to become productive
citizens in their own communities one day.
YLEC also had the privilege to meet and talk to
Bob Bennett, Regents Chancellor for the State University of New York (SUNY). His talk focused around school funding
and the importance of holding schools accountable for their services. One of the ways the Board of Regents of
SUNY does this is by seeing how students perform on statewide tests. If you went to high school in New York
State, then you probably took your fair share of Regents Examinations. Most high schools require a Regents
Diploma, indicating a passing grade on a number of Regents exams in various
subjects, for graduation. Mr.
Bennett and his board look at the results from high schools across New York and
to see which ones are not educating their students to a sufficient degree. In light of the state’s budget crisis
as well as the national economic downturn, which Mr. Bennett termed a “depression”
for his purposes, the Board of Regents must use its funding more wisely and
more efficiently than it has in the past.
To conclude Education Day, YLEC members ran a
mock school board meeting. With
the help of Phil Rumore from the Buffalo Teachers’ Federation, Ralph Hernandez
from the Buffalo Public School Board, and individuals from interest groups such
as At Risk Youth and Parent-Teacher Associations, we discussed what can be done
to better prepare students for graduation and the continuation of their studies
in college. Through this exercise,
we were able to see how the value and cost of programs and services are weighed
by a school board. With so many
interest groups vying for their projects to be adopted, it is the school board’s
job to insure that everyone is represented and considered.
As President Obama said in his address to Congress recently, “We know the countries that out-teach us today will out-compete us tomorrow.” Education is even more important in
rebuilding cities like Buffalo.
The kinds of jobs that can revitalize this region will not be held by
people with only a high school diploma.
These jobs, for example in medical and technological fields, will employ
college graduates and those able to benefit from advanced training. Western New York is very fortunate to host
a number of excellent colleges and universities. If public schools in the area are able to raise instruction levels
and effectively educate more students in preparation for advanced study in
college and beyond, a more prosperous Buffalo will not be far behind.
Top Photo: Bob Bennett
2nd Photo: Stacey Watson of South Buffalo Education Center (SBEC)
3rd Photo: Students with Phil Rumore
Bottom Photo: Students make their case in school board simulation