Could a 1,500-year-old Catholic tradition be the answer to Newark's education problems?

[rug]

A new documentary called "The Rule," examines tough issues facing Newark schools by chronicling the achievements of St. Benedict's Preparatory School.

By Naomi Nix | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on September 25, 2014 at 8:00 AM, updated September 25, 2014 at 11:12 AM

NEWARK — You don't have to look far to find depressing statistics about Newark.

The Brick City suffered from 111 murders last year; more than a third of its residents fall below the poverty line; the unemployment rate of Essex County sits at a stubbornly high 10 percent.

In the face of those odds, how do students muster up any interest in learning? How do schools adequately prepare kids to not only graduate, but to thrive?

A new documentary called "The Rule," attempts to answer those questions and more by chronicling the achievements of St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/09/documentary_on_newarks_st_benedicts_school_to_air_on_pbs_tonight.html

http://vimeo.com/100930402

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. They're going to have to get a whole *slew* of waivers from all the US DOE mandates:

NCLB, RTTT CCSS and all the rest of the nauseating alphabet soup.

And that's just for starters.

[rug]

2. They've jumped all the hurdles for 150 years.

No reason to think they won't now.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. I don't mean the Catholic school.

I mean the public school system of Newark if it is going to implement the Catholic school "model".

[rug]

4. Ah. But still, that school has to meet many of the same regulations, especially if it's receiving

federal, state and municipal grants.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Well... there's many more "hurdles" now than there was 150 yrs ago.

Beyond that... we have to take into account... if we are going to entertain this as a model for what Newark public schools can accomplish) that most Catholic schools "self-select."

Works both ways actually: parents actively seek out ( and usually PAY for) the parochial school ( for all sorts of different reasons) while students have to test-in and meet requirements to gain admission.

And where where there are problems... there is attrition. The kids who can't or won't make it it are back in public school.

If Newark is going to adopt the catholic prep school model ( and in many ways it already is --- in the form of charter schools) it's still going to have to figure out what it will do with the kids who are not St Benedict "material".

And I guarantee you there's going to be a *lot* of them.

[rug]

6. It's not a template but many aspects of it can be adapted to other schools.

Tibaldo-Bongiorno also showed the film at Columbia University's Teacher's College, where a group of educators plan to write a guide for schools based on the documentary.

But Tibaldo-Bongiorno hopes everyday Newarkers will watch the film and take away valuable lessons about education.

Who do you consider "kids who are not St Benedict 'material' ?

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Exceptional kids.

Kids w. ieps, severe and profound disabilities, conduct disorders. "Emotionally handicapped", in the now anachronistic special ed terminology.

Gay kids. Kids w. issues related to gender, etc.

Kids who punch teachers. Kids who beat on each other. Kids w. criminal records. Kids whose mom or grandma is a drug addict and doesn't know or care where.... or even IF..... their teenager is going to school.


Public schools have to educate *all* of the above.

[rug]

8. And public school districts usually have different classes and/or schools to accommodate them.

This is one school. And lessons can still be drawn from it for each of those student populations.

This is not a referendum about private school versus public school.