When I worked at the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) located in Washington, DC, twice a year the staff would have a day of service and community connection. The employees would be placed in a variety of teams and sent to a diverse collection of agencies and institutions in and around the city.
Personally, the most profound of these experiences was the day spent at an inner-city public elementary school. Before we met the children, the principal took us outside to the playground. She emphasized the outside of the door which lead from the school to the swing sets and monkey bars. The door was marked with multiple bullet holes. "The children can't use the playground every day because sometimes we need to clean up the used needles, liquor bottles. Usually once a year when we arrive in the morning we have to call the police because there's a dead body on the playground."
Walking through the elementary school the walls had some kids' projects and artwork, yet what I noted was it was the season for elementary school election of class officers. I wanted to volunteer to be the campaign manager for the young girl running for class secretary whose campaign poster highlighted her skill set: "Vote Alia for Class Secretary! I know cursive!"
Later that year, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in San Diego (great work when you can get it....) where I presented to various faith groups on the need for educational reform so each child received a quality education no matter one's race, gender, income or zip code.
My stay provided me the opportunity to visit a local public elementary school located in a lower-economic area. The children were all black or Latino. I spent the morning there following the schedule of the students. We had recess and I played basketball with the children. A rousing game of H.O.R.S.E. had a fair share of trash talk among the fifth-graders. "Nothing but net! You'll see me in the NBA! I'm outta here!"
The classroom had a piano. The teacher told me that because the school didn't think it necessary she bought it with her own money and paid for the movers to bring it into the building. "There are several kids who love music and relate to it so deeply. I use it to reach them and teach them." She showed me what she meant and the several kids who during the math lesson were twirling their hair and staring with heads titled back up at the ceiling, when the first notes of the piano played the children sat up and were attentive to whatever instruction was about to begin.
Today is the 67th anniversary of the historic Brown versus Board of Education Supreme Court decision which declared racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.
Education is the game changer, the life builder. I am thankful I was raised in a home that celebrated reading and education. I am lucky I attended a good public school...go Freeport Yellowjackets!
Yet, I know my experience is not the reality for far too many of our nation's children. I have committed time and energy and feet power (walking at marches, rallies and through the halls of power) toward educational justice. Today, public schools are even more segregated and many in areas where they are most needed are under-staffed, under-funded and under-whelming to their communities.
