New Orleans, February and March, 2009
on Margaret Campbell's Rambles (India), 05/Apr/2009 02:55, 34 days ago
So what's up with New Orleans? We spent 4 weeks working at Lafayette Academy Charter School in the Carrolton neighborhood, a part of town that was flooded during Katrina and in which many houses still bear the distinctive X's spray painted by rescuers after the storm. A badge of courage perhaps. Many schools were closed in the aftermath of the storm, including Lafayette, and this disrupted academic progress for many neighborhood kids who were displaced around the nation and/or separated from family. Many were performing below grade level before Katrina - indeed Louisiana public schools are among the lowest performing in the nation - and fully 25% of Lafayette's kids have learning disabilities or other special needs.  There is widespread dissatisfaction with the New Orleans School Board - just pick up any issue of the Times-Picayune - and a second, parallel, school board was launched post-Katrina to re-open schools in 2006. I don't know how this works but in Louisiana anything is possible :-). Lafayette was re-opened as a charter school - a free public school that is held accountable for results, not just adherence to the educational code. Jan and I worked on some electronic information projects and had the privilege of tutoring 2nd and 3rd graders each day. With one or two exceptions our charges absolutely LOVED spending time with us in the reading room. We had some very eager and diligent young performers but just beneath the surface we sometimes glimpsed what different cultures we live in. I was working in the library one day and overheard an adult working with a child, not sure if it was coaching for the statewide tests or some sort of assessment. Q:"What is the purpose of wearing a seat belt?"A:"Because if you don't you get stopped and get a ticket and have to go to court."Q:"Whatshouldyou do if you find a wallet in a store?"A:“You take it to they house and they give you five dollar for bringing it.” Wow.   Above, the darling Destiny Williams and future statesmen Jacoby Patt and KaJa Rhea. I just hope they remember me when they get to the top.  Here Jan reads with Melissa Davis; Jacoby Patt and I finish a game of Guess Who?