Waiting for Superman

Waiting For Superman is an important film that begins the desperately-needed education discussion. While I maintain views that run counter to the film’s, I truly respect its ability to create conversation about a sore issue in our nation. Conversation is the key to a path of solution and I commend director Davis Guggenheim for beginning the discussion.

                However, I think Guggenheim got a few things wrong. By the end of the documentary we are left to believe is that charter schools are the answer to the flawed educational system. Bad teachers and unions are the problem. But these conclusions are far too broad for how many variables calculate into the issue. Some possible variables: teachers are forced to “teach to the test,” children are coming from areas of severe poverty, educators aren’t held to a high degree of accountability, the curriculum isn’t necessarily relevant to students and thus, they have less incentive to learn, certain schools have higher academic standing, society promotes certain groups over others, the list continues.

Perhaps my greatest question is how can anyone even remotely begin to tackle such problems when the issue is underpinned by societal tendencies to discriminate those of color and of poverty? Guggenheim blames poor teachers. Sure, that’s definitely a problem. But when a teacher gets kids who are four grade levels behind or children whose families are struggling to put dinner on the table, how can they be expected to get them to grade level within just one year? It’s like these kids are destined to fail from the beginning simply because of where they were born and how much money they have.  

Waiting for Superman loves its charter schools. What bologna! If they are the answer, then we abandon every child who falls into the hands of the public school system. Charter schools don’t fix the problem, they perpetuate the problem by ignoring the issue altogether. 

Guggenheim fell short in his documentary. Superman cannot save this situation, only we can.

cartoon by Kevin Siers, The Charlotte Observer