Ms. Asquith's 6th Grade Class, Philadelphia, PA.
The above photo is from this article:
FIRST PERSON - A REAL EDUCATION: When a Reporter Becomes a Teacher, She Learns Something
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Note to FR, from summer:
Earlier this month I received a freepmail from someone claiming to be a journalist, thanking me for posting her article, above, here on Free Republic.
I have never met this person, nor spoken to her, but in this instance I will take it on faith that she is who she claims because: her article was very unique, and the response from FR posters was overwhelmingly positive.
You may recall reading it, as she is the journalist who left reporting for a year and taught in the worst inner city public middle school in Philadelphia. She then wrote about her experience and the article was published in the Columbia School of Journalism Review. I posted the article here on FR, and suggested to all FLORIDA REPORTERS that they follow her example, and go out there and teach in FL public schools. Then, maybe, they will see firsthand the positive changes happening under Gov Bush.
After she freepmailed me, I invited her to start a new thread. She would like to introduce herself to all of you. So, below is a letter from her to you.
And, yes, she is now on FR and freepmailed to me that she intends to join this thread. Her FR poster name is: clasquith
PS It's not often that a journalist writes to THANK me for posting his or her article, as sometimes I take these journalists to task for failing to report the facts with respect to FL and education.
Consequently, Christina, Thank you. I have really enjoyed chatting with you on freepmail this month as we set this up! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter To FR, From Philadelphia Reporter/ Teacher, Christina Asquith
Hello FreeRepublic,
I was very flattered to find my article on your website here and greatly enjoyed reading the posts.
As summer mentioned above, I then registered on FR and freepmailed summer, thanking her for posting my article. I also mentioned how much I appreciated all your feedback.
She then suggested this new thread, in case anyone else had anything to say to me about their views on education, or my article.
FYI: I'm freelance writing now from New York about education. I have a pieces in The Economist, Teacher Magazine and School Boards Journal.I also have a book coming out next year about my year teaching in the city schools, tentatively called "Failure is not an Option".
Most reporters are happy enough just to make people think about something, so it will be especially nice for me to actually be involved with you in a dialogue here -- even if we don't always agree. However, I did notice the response you had to my article posted by summer was overwhelmingly favorable.
The reality of inner city schools vs. what's portrayed by the media and politicians is a subject worth a deeper discussion.
I was just in Philadelphia where, as I'm sure everyone's aware, the state is privatizing/reconstituting 72 schools. The media portrays this as an earthshattering breakthrough in education, but it's not. The teachers' opposition is so (depressingly) strong it will most likely derail any real change.
I don't think many reporters support vouchers, but I do now that I've seen what's really happening in the schools.
The other issue I care a lot about is Special Education. The IDEA legislation is being reauthorized this summer in Congress.
From my article posted here on FR, I'm sure you know that I was disgusted by the federal government's blase "audit" of our special education program. They are a bunch of "i" dotters and "t" crossers at the expense of the most desperate kids.
Now that I'm out of the classroom and writing full time about education, I have to make a real effort to stay on top of what's really happening in the schools.
I saw some teachers on the web posts on the other thread, and I hope they'll join FR parents and others in the in this discussion here.
Sincerely,
Christina