Educating Boston’s schoolchildren: It is all about Time
Maura Hennigan, Boston City Councillor At-Large
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentleman. Thank you for coming. In 1996 at the Mayor’s State of the
City address the Mayor told the city…"If I fail to bring about… specific reforms by the year
2001… then judge me harshly."
Mr. Mayor it is 2005… I, and the people of this city are here to tell you: you have failed!
I am running for Mayor of Boston because I believe in a better Boston and I believe NOW is
the time to reform the Boston Public Schools!
As a former Boston Public School teacher, I would give the Mayor’s record on education a
failing grade. Our children and our schools deserve fresh ideas in order to reform our
education system and the Mayor’s administration is simply too stagnant to deliver them.
The people of Boston are being told the schools are good…I ask the citizens of Boston,
how do you feel?
I believe Boston and the Boston Public Schools can and should be better!
Since the establishment of the first public school in the new world over 350 years ago
(Boston Latin School), the City of Boston has been the national pioneer in public
education. As our City’s economic and social foundations transformed from agriculture
to industry and eventually to more technical pursuits, appropriate modifications
were made to our educational framework. I propose that the City of Boston should
once again lead the nation by significantly extending the length of the school day.
Unprecedented responsibilities have been placed upon our public schools, broadening
the scope of activities that take place during a typical school day. Computer
science, individualized programs to meet the educational, social and emotional
needs of each student and enhanced instruction to prepare for mandated MCAS
testing, are examples of new activities that are now required in addition to
tradition subjects such as Reading, English and Mathematics. Notwithstanding all
these new requirements, the six-hour school day, originally designed to meet the
labor needs of 19th century farmers, has remained virtually unchanged. Studies
commissioned in the 1990’s, at both the Federal and State levels of Government,
all concluded that additional time is the missing link in recent education reform.
Recently, both the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy, and the
Massachusetts 2020 Foundation, two well-regarded non-partisan public education
policy organizations, have consistently reported that significant educational
achievement goals are met with the introduction of more time.
In our hi-tech society of high - speed transportation and instantaneous communication,
we have grown accustom to accomplishing our goals and obligations in light-speed
fashion. However, when it comes to education, there are no short cuts or high
tech solutions that tend to hasten the learning process. It takes time to
effectively teach and to adequately learn. There is simply not enough time in
the existing school day to successfully accomplish all of the expanded educational
objectives in a manner that will significantly close achievement gaps, cultivate
the strengths of exceptional students and prepare all students to adequately
function in our complex society and global economy
Recent trends towards single parenting and the need for most parents to work
outside the home have created social and economic complications relating to
the supervision of young pupils during the morning and afternoon hours when
most parents or guardians are working. National studies show that it is during
these afternoon hours that there has been an increase in the incidents of crime,
violence, and drug or alcohol abuse involving juveniles.
The extension of the school day to run concurrently with the typical working
hours of parents would have a significant positive impact in many ways. In addition
to relieving parents of childcare pressures, adequate time could now be spent on
fulfilling the academic goals of each student, both challenged and gifted alike.
Rather than roaming the streets or spending endless hours glued to television sets
or video games waiting for parents to return from work, Boston’s children could be
engaged in creative, artistic, athletic and other enriching pursuits in a safe and
structured environment. More meaningful, unrushed school time will allow students
to develop better study skills, build confidence in their abilities and instill a
lifelong commitment to hard work and ultimate success. Readjusting the school day
schedule to meet the varying needs of parents and students will have a wide range
of positive implications. Studies indicate that the typical grammar, middle and
high school students have different physiological needs. Later starts for teenagers,
in particular, have improved learning efficiency. Additionally, employers report
definite decreases in the afternoon productivity of employees who often must scramble
to assure that their children are adequately supervised.
It is estimated that a two-hour extension of the school day will cost approximately
$1,300 per pupil per year. These estimated costs could however be substantially
offset by the creation of innovative public/private partnerships with Boston area
universities, colleges and profit and non-profit entities. The Massachusetts Senate,
acknowledging the need for the extended school day, has recently approved a budget
amendment that earmarks $500,000 for planning and early implementation grants for
those school districts who seek to create longer school days.
I am calling for the Boston School Department to immediately apply for the available
state planning grant funds and once again lead the nation in the development of a
comprehensive extended school day program on a citywide basis that meets the demands
of our advanced urban culture.
A large part of our tax dollars are spent to reduce crime, poverty, teen pregnancy,
alcohol and drug abuse, communicable disease and other symptoms of a dysfunctional
citizenry. In the long-run, assuring that our children are adequately prepared to
function as independent and productive adults in our complex global society will
ultimately save taxpayer money, advance the standard of living for future generations
and improve the quality of life for all citizens of Boston.
The mayor promised us better schools and said to us “judge me harshly.” Mr. Mayor,
you have had 12 years to make significant change to our schools and you have failed.
The time for reform is now. The time for change is now.
My name is Maura Hennigan. I am running for Mayor because I believe the Boston
Public Schools can be and should be better. This is the first in a series of
educational initiatives that I will submit to you to make Boston Public Schools
the best in the nation.
I believe in a better Boston!
Thank you
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