kids & family (Continued from pg. 36) “I wasn’t completely confident these upgrades were going to happen,” Francis said. “I realized frankly that Ward 7 schools were not really a priority – that’s how I felt – so I had to weigh the options for my child.” She had reason to be worried. When she testified, she said councilmembers told her that budgets are based on enrollment. Enrollment at Plummer was dropping.
Whose Choice? by Kathleen Donner
Zomo the Rabbit
Zomo, one hip-hoppity rabbit, is taking on DC. When Zomo is dissed and dismissed by the other tricksters in town, he turns to the Sky God for more power. The Sky God sends him on an impossible quest taking him from the breakdancing fish on the DC Waterfront, to the graffiti artist cow at the National Zoo and finally to the DJ Leopard in Adams Morgan. Will Zomo find the power he’s seeking? Or will he wise up? This high-energy hiphop adaptation of a Nigerian folktale originally commissioned by Imagination Stage in 2009, puts a local spin and lots of silly humor on the global tradition of trickster tales. For ages 4, up. Feb. 8 to March 22 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. imaginationstage.org.
Explore Bellevue Library
Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., join an interactive program for children, ages 2 to 5 and caregivers that uses play and exploration to develop pre-literacy skills. This program will rotate through play, music and dance. Bellevue Library is at 115 Atlantic St. SW. dclibrary.org/Bellevue.
Deanwood All Ages Story Time
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., explore stories and activities to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. This 20-to-30-minute program is designed to promote language and listening skills, expand children’s imaginations and arouse their curiosity about the world around them. It is recommended for children ages birth to five. Deanwood Library is at 1350 49th St. NE. dclibrary.org/deanwood.
Rise + Rhyme
Mondays, at 9:30 a.m. there is morning storytelling and performances for children ages 5 and under with the goals of teaching children to engage with their community, learn to love performing and become rising ‘artivists!’ Busboys and Poets-Anacostia is at 2004 MLK Ave. SE. busboysandpoets.com.
President’s Day Public Skating
There is a public skating session at Ft. Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE., on Monday, Feb. 17, from noon to two p.m. Skating is $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; and $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org.
Discovery Theater
On Feb. 11 to 13, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., enjoy Into the Great Unknown-African American Adventurers and Explorers. Leadership, courage and adventure take center stage in this inspiring Discovery Theater original. From Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole, to astronaut Mae Jemison, meet a century’s worth of bold men and women who challenged the Western frontier, the highest of mountains and the vastness of outer space. For ages 6 to 12. On Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., enjoy Going the Distance. Race to the finish line with two black Olympians who changed history! Soaring music contributes to a vivid portrayal of the lives of Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph. Watch them as they overcome childhood illness, infirmity and poverty to become the world’s fastest man and woman. For ages 6 to 12.All shows are $6 for kids; under two, $3; adults, $8. Discovery Theater, Ripley Center, 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW. discoverytheater.org. 38
EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com
Eboni-Rose Thompson says that the city should be working to guarantee equitable education for kids. The chair of the Ward 7 Education Council said that does not mean taking choice off the table, but it argues for investing in neighborhood schools, the only place kids are assured a place in the classroom. Thompson said that a system that depends on enrollment for resources is not sustainable. Parents don’t want to send their children to a school in the hope that it will have sufficient enrollment to be adequately funded, she said. The auditor’s office is shining light on the issue of who takes advantage of school choice, itself an issue of equity, Thompson added. While some students benefit from the system, those who do not are those with the greatest needs. The problem, she said, is that the choice system presumes people will go through multiple processes in order to access a good education. “What happens if the adults in your life aren’t doing that for you?” she asked. “Whether that is because they don’t have the information, or the time or the access or the resources – you don’t have a choice. That shouldn’t be the case.” When you think about how rapidly the city is changing, she added, and the impact on neighborhoods, it becomes even more important to make a commitment to schools and the children who attend them. “If we’re going to hold kids steady,” Thompson said, “we have to hold schools steady. Period.”
“I Don’t Think It’s a Choice”
Last spring, after weighing the options, Francis put her son’s name in the DC Lottery. He was matched with bilingual public charter school Mundo Verde (30 P St. NW). Describing the budget that teachers work with at Mundo Verde as “ridiculous” compared to what Plummer had to cope with, Francis said that the school offers courses like swimming and robotics in addition to language. It also has a school garden to teach about food and wellness. “These are things that are not looked at as ‘enrichment.’ They are part of the core curriculum,” she said. Though the family is satisfied with Mundo Verde, Francis said that the choice process was stressful and complicated, and with sibling and distance preferences playing roles, not as random a lottery as parents are led to believe. “I don’t think it’s choice at all,” she said. “A choice would be: my neighborhood school is a solid, fine, functional school where he’s going to get a comparable education to a [public elementary school like] Oyster or Marie Reed. And I don’t feel that way.” The District’s apparent inability to provide every school with sufficient resources to meet the needs of students is ultimately a self-fulfilling prophecy, Francis said. “How do you prevent schools from failing, if you don’t give them the resources?” she asked. “If the school isn’t properly funded, it’s ultimately headed for closure.” You can read the auditor’s report at www.dcauditor.org/report/enrollment-projections-in-d-c-public-schools-controls-needed-to-ensure-funding-equity. Learn about the Ward 7 Education Council at www.ward7edcouncil.org, and learn about Francis’s language not-for-profit at www. eotrlingokids.com. u
