By Chris Catanzaro:
A common theme that has seemed to plague Buffalo’s progress in several arenas has been the division of those involved. Instead of coming together and utilizing many great ideas to address issues, various groups and individuals often make it worse through opposition. This pattern is no different for the status of Buffalo school children. As a worker and child advocate in the social services agency, I have witnessed the divisiveness first hand. There are problems and solutions need to be found.
The problem: failing children and failing schools. The even larger problem: lack of open-minded, cohesive group of adults responsible for addressing solutions to problems. Instead of being “solution focused” and working as a unit, the adults associated with correcting the problems continue to point fingers instead of coming to the table to provide a united front and plan. Everyone appears to have the answers, yet nothing has changed…the drop-out rate has been steady for over 10 years.
If you have followed the news lately with either a keen eye or outside interest, you have noticed that there is serious fragmentation. We have the school board v. superintendent, superintendent v. the state regents board, parents v. school board/superintendent, school board/parents v. teachers and the list of combatants goes on. All parties point to the other as the problem, instead of looking at the needed improvements and working to construct a plan that addresses each issue for the sake of the target group: our children.
Several grass-roots groups, churches, service agencies and other willing participants continue to offer their help and guidance, but to no avail. It appears that those in positions of power to make the change are either unwilling or confused. Problems of this magnitude in this city, as well as other cities, with similar issues seem to be best approached through a coalition, yet we have none. And I’m not sure some necessary participants would even consider such an alliance. Whether it is ego, lack of leadership or outright disdain for an individual, there seems to be a serious disconnect. Unfortunately, the only participants that continue to suffer are those that have little or no voice in the matters…the students. It’s time for Buffalo and those passionate about educational change to come together, start advocating in the best interests of the students and stop the division.
Contact me via e-mail if interested in coordinating a coalition. I’m a social service worker that has advocated for educational
change and successful alternatives for at risk youth in the City o
Buffalo.