Beyond buzzwords: Cambridge schools need action, not rhetoric
Buzzwords and angry candidates won’t move culture forward, even if you’re a new voice on the committee who manages to win a seat. We must shun the rhetoric and finger-pointing and examine how we accelerate progress.
The future of education will not be changed by the bellowing of buzzwords. The term “equity” has become grossly overused and dangerously polarizing, often strategically leaving out those most vulnerable – even in well-intentioned Cambridge.
Like most transplants, my family moved to Cambridge from the neighborhood of Roxbury, approximately three miles away, searching primarily for better schools. I haven’t confirmed this with my mother, but I believe the driving factor was centered on the public education system that would potentially afford my younger sister and me a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
It’s election season, as evidenced by the large number of candidates running for seats on the Cambridge School Committee. I have reason to believe that the authentic voices of candidates – and by proximity, the incumbents – may be getting lost in the noise, which further compounds the concerns of community members.
A decision has been made to select interim superintendent David Murphy to serve as the official new leader of Cambridge Public Schools. Regardless of where you stand on the imperfect selection process, we must understand this: Schools will not become stronger simply because they are in a first-class city. Being in Cambridge does not guarantee a first-class public education.
Education is part of the lifeblood of Cambridge, but loving and caring about children is not enough. We are not only in a moment of change in our country’s history as it pertains to education – we need to move beyond the buzzwords, roll up our sleeves and get to work. Buzzwords and angry candidates won’t move culture forward, even if you’re a new voice on the committee who manages to win a seat.
Today we must shun the rhetoric and finger-pointing and examine how we accelerate progress. We need to outline a comprehensive strategy to support families and work arduously to emancipate those who have been strangled by educational inequity in this moment and, in far too many cases, intergenerationally.
It’s often mentioned that Cambridge is unique. As a lover of this city, I remain optimistic – albeit with one eye open – that our city will push itself to move from good to great.
There is nothing easy about running a school district. While I have never run one myself, I have served as a network leader overseeing a cadre of schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan, and I bring more than 25 years of classroom teaching experience. My work in education has spanned from Newark, New Jersey, to Compton, California, to Ferguson, Missouri, to name a few stops. It is Cambridge – even being smaller than many of the places I’ve worked – that appears to be complicated for no other reason than to just be complicated.
We have to move away from the jargon and hit the ground with reckless abandon. I hope current committee members and the hopefuls will work together and support the individual who has been hired: David Murphy.
Today will be a new day only if egos are moved to the side, kids are centered, parents are seen and educators are excited to walk into school communities they can call their own.
As the great James Baldwin said, “I love America, which is why I am critical of her.” Cambridge, the excuses must end and the rhetoric must stop. Let’s place kids and families first. Cambridge has to become the crown jewel that my mother coveted 40 years ago.
The writer is a professor, co-founder and co-president of The MBK Cambridge Task Force, and 1994 graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
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Beyond buzzwords: Cambridge schools need action, not rhetoric
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The future of education will not be changed by the bellowing of buzzwords. The term “equity” has become grossly overused and dangerously polarizing, often strategically leaving out those most vulnerable – even in well-intentioned Cambridge.
Like most transplants, my family moved to Cambridge from the neighborhood of Roxbury, approximately three miles away, searching primarily for better schools. I haven’t confirmed this with my mother, but I believe the driving factor was centered on the public education system that would potentially afford my younger sister and me a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
It’s election season, as evidenced by the large number of candidates running for seats on the Cambridge School Committee. I have reason to believe that the authentic voices of candidates – and by proximity, the incumbents – may be getting lost in the noise, which further compounds the concerns of community members.
A decision has been made to select interim superintendent David Murphy to serve as the official new leader of Cambridge Public Schools. Regardless of where you stand on the imperfect selection process, we must understand this: Schools will not become stronger simply because they are in a first-class city. Being in Cambridge does not guarantee a first-class public education.
Education is part of the lifeblood of Cambridge, but loving and caring about children is not enough. We are not only in a moment of change in our country’s history as it pertains to education – we need to move beyond the buzzwords, roll up our sleeves and get to work. Buzzwords and angry candidates won’t move culture forward, even if you’re a new voice on the committee who manages to win a seat.
Today we must shun the rhetoric and finger-pointing and examine how we accelerate progress. We need to outline a comprehensive strategy to support families and work arduously to emancipate those who have been strangled by educational inequity in this moment and, in far too many cases, intergenerationally.
It’s often mentioned that Cambridge is unique. As a lover of this city, I remain optimistic – albeit with one eye open – that our city will push itself to move from good to great.
There is nothing easy about running a school district. While I have never run one myself, I have served as a network leader overseeing a cadre of schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan, and I bring more than 25 years of classroom teaching experience. My work in education has spanned from Newark, New Jersey, to Compton, California, to Ferguson, Missouri, to name a few stops. It is Cambridge – even being smaller than many of the places I’ve worked – that appears to be complicated for no other reason than to just be complicated.
We have to move away from the jargon and hit the ground with reckless abandon. I hope current committee members and the hopefuls will work together and support the individual who has been hired: David Murphy.
Today will be a new day only if egos are moved to the side, kids are centered, parents are seen and educators are excited to walk into school communities they can call their own.
As the great James Baldwin said, “I love America, which is why I am critical of her.” Cambridge, the excuses must end and the rhetoric must stop. Let’s place kids and families first. Cambridge has to become the crown jewel that my mother coveted 40 years ago.
The writer is a professor, co-founder and co-president of The MBK Cambridge Task Force, and 1994 graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
Like this:
Related Stories
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.