Addressing Failing Schools In Atlanta, Georgia To Find A Solution

by C. Henry Adams

On April 14th 2015, I had the opportunity to sat in the Collier Heights Community Association Meeting held at Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church located on H. E Holmes Drive or what eventually becomes Georgia State Route 280 in Atlanta, Georgia.

There I heard Georgia State Representative Sheila Jones present the State Bills that passed in the State of Georgia House of Representatives and Senate.

One bill that stood out in the Community to which I live and thrive is SB133 or 2015-2016 Regular Session - SB 133 Opportunity School District; establishment; provide for definitions; supervision of public elementary and secondary schools that are failing

Furthermore, on that very day, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter gave out some serious sentences to convicted Educators of the Atlanta Public Schools. 

Oglethorpe University President Lawrence M. Schall, recently gave a pretty fair assessment of these sad state of affairs in an opinion article written in the AJC.

Both, the Georgia Bill SB133 and the conviction of Former Atlanta Public Schools Educators will likely not solve the problem of failing schools particularly in Atlanta, Georgia.

If failing Schools equal failing Children in learning, retaining and advancing in Life as a whole, what are we as a Community not doing as a whole?

When a similar question was posed to State of Georgia House of Representative Shelia Jones, she stated that the Community needs to get involve with the schools.  

I concur with State of Georgia House of Representative Shelia Jones and all the concern Citizens at that Meeting.  WE as a Community need to get involve with the schools in our Community.

So, what might be some of the ways we could help?

Perhaps as Responsible Citizens go to the school to offer assistance through various programs such as the following:

1) Offer Tutoring to Students via the Schools
2) Offer Tutoring to Students via Non-Profit Organizations, as well as, Churches, Synagogues and Mosque
3) Offer Leadership & Responsibility Workshops, Programs and Events ( Article, Video ) to Students.
4) Offer Mentor-ship to Students via the Schools, Communities & Neighborhoods
5) Help broaden the horizon of a Child by sponsoring Community or Neighborhood events that take the Kids to places never explored or realized nearby.

Perhaps I'm a dreamer, but here are some solutions mentioned above that could help further the advancements in education.  So, what are your thoughts, what do you think?





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