All the fiber optic cable in the world won’t do Salisbury any good if large numbers of its citizens continue to drop out of school. Yet City Council is virtually powerless to do anything about education problems here. Or is it?
The first step toward change is recognition that there’s a problem, and Dr. Suzanne W. Morse provided plenty of information Thursday to open council members’ eyes to the severity of the education shortfall here. The president of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Morse sounded a warning about low reading and math test scores in Salisbury-area schools. In addition to schools in the city limits, her study included others that serve city families, such as Koontz and Hurley elementaries. Had she looked at the entire county, she might well have come to a similar conclusion ó too many low test scores, too few graduates.
Instead of losing learned people to other areas, Salisbury-Rowan suffers a different kind of brain drain ó the unrealized potential of children who don’t get the skills and diplomas they need. Meanwhile, low test scores put off companies and families that might relocate here.
Salisbury gave up control of its schools when the city and county school systems merged, and city government is hardly in a position to offer additional financial support. But here are some suggestions from the Pew Partnership’s Web site and elsewhere that the city could consider encouraging or even partnering in:
– Mentoring programs. The city is already a big proponent of mentoring, and Communities in Schools runs a strong program. In addition to one-on-one efforts with children, though, there may be a way to connect with parents as well. In Wisconsin, for example, the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program provides eight-week sessions led by educators and volunteers to build trust among families, the community and the schools.
– Parent education. All too often, poverty begets poverty. Classes addressing general parenting skills or other specific needs could help parents be more effective. More events like the Project SAFE Neighborhoods Family Day could address parenting skills. Knollwood Elementary’s evening classes to help Hispanic parents learn English are a great service to the community.
– Literacy programs. The Rowan Literacy Council also needs more tutors and financial support.
– Charter schools. The Pew Web site says students in small alternative programs appreciate the increased attention and the opportunity to work at their own pace. There is room here for a charter school that can be more innovative and disciplined than traditional public schools.
The new fiber-to-home system could be a technological leap forward. Salisbury is already a star when it comes to the arts and cultural activities, and efforts to preserve historic structures have paid off. But all that will be but a thin veneer over deep problems if education and income levels continue to fall. It takes a village to raise test scores; the schools can’t do it alone.