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Teaching My Son to Speak Out

I often remind my son, Kendric, that he can speak up for himself, but there are times when parents must help their children speak out.

Kendric and I went to Albany last week to speak out against a school system in crisis. We were not the only ones. Thousands of other families were there, too.

For Kendric and me, the experience was moving. I was reminded of my own education in a parochial school and in one of the city’s public high schools. The stark contrast in academic rigor and discipline was a total shock.

I also have seen the difference that great teachers and great schools can make from my son’s experience. Kendric went to a district school for pre-k because I knew the teacher was great. But I also knew the school did not provide the same quality education to all its students. Kendric’s teacher had high standards and made the children curious about learning, but the other pre-k class just did busy work.

When it came time for kindergarten, I didn’t want Kendric doing busy work. I chose Success Academy because the teachers in every classroom and in every school all expect a lot from their students and work hard to help them achieve their goals. I know this because Kendric is now in the fifth grade and he is learning what I remember doing in high school. College is years away but he is already thinking about the SATs!

I am grateful for great charter schools giving many parents like me the power to choose the education we want for our children. But the 143,000 kids in New York City who are stuck in failing schools and the 800,000 students across New York State who are not being equipped to do grade-level work, have no choice.

I was proud to speak out against this social injustice with Kendric by my side.

 

Written by Kelly Lau March 13, 2015

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