11 minute read
National
NEWSPAPER READING IS A HABIT
DON’T BREAK THE HABIT!
READ THE WASHINGTON INFORMER YOUR WAY:
n In Print – feel the ink between your fingers of our Award Winning Print Edition n On the Web – www.washingtoninformer.com updated throughout the day, every day n On your tablet n On your smartphone n Facebook n Twitter n Weekly Email Blast – sign up at www.washingtoninformer.com
202-561-4100 For advertising contact Ron Burke at rburke@washingtoninformer.com
...Informing you everyday in every way
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER NEWSPAPER (ISSN#0741-9414) is published weekly on each Thursday. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. News and advertising deadline is Monday prior to publication. Announcements must be received two weeks prior to event. Copyright 2016 by The Washington Informer. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send change of addresses to The Washington Informer, 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20032. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Informer Newspaper cannot guarantee the return of photographs. Subscription rates are $45 per year, two years $60. Papers will be received not more than a week after publication. Make checks payable to:
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER 3117 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E Washington, D.C. 20032 Phone: 202 561-4100 Fax: 202 574-3785 news@washingtoninformer.com www.washingtoninformer.com
In Memoriam Dr. Calvin W. Rolark, Sr. Wilhelmina J. Rolark
PUBLISHER
Denise Rolark Barnes
STAFF
D. Kevin McNeir, Senior Editor Ron Burke, Advertising/Marketing Director Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor Lafayette Barnes, IV, Editor, WI Bridge DC Jamila Bey, Digital Content Editor Austin Cooper, Our House Editor Desmond Barnes, Social Media Stategist ZebraDesigns.net, Design & Layout Mable Neville, Bookkeeper Angie Johnson, Office Mgr./Circulation Angel Johnson, Admin. Asst.
REPORTERS
Stacy Brown (Senior Writer), Sam P.K. Collins, Aja Beckham, Ed Hill, Will Ford (Prince George’s County Editor), Hamil Harris, Curtis Knowles, Brenda Siler,Lindiwe Vilakazi, Sarafina Wright, James Wright
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Shevry Lassiter, Photo Editor, Roy Lewis, Jr., Robert R. Roberts, Anthony Tilghman, Abdula Konte, Ja'Mon Jackson
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Fighting for Words, Fighting for Students
By Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman WI Special Editions Editor
Georgia’s 1829 Anti-Literacy Act stated: “…if any slave, negro, or free person of color, or any white person, shall teach any other slave, negro, or free person 5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) of color, to read or write either written or printed characters, the said free person of color or slave shall be punished by fine and whipping, or fine or whipping at the discretion of the court; and if a white person so offending, he, she, or they shall be punished with fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars, and imprisonment in the common jail at the discretion of the court before whom said offender is tried.
With this law, Governor George R. Gilmer solidified the role of state governments in suppressing knowledge and aggressively positioning literacy as the key component to personhood and citizenship. Given that both enslaved and free African Americans found themselves subject to the same restrictions, gaining access to and mastering the very valuable tool of literacy, fueled daily life. African Americans found continued barriers to accessing literacy into the 1950s when libraries, including Purcellville Library in Loudoun County, Va., prohibited Blacks from accessing or checking out books in libraries.
Undeterred, African Americans created their own private libraries, reading clubs, and literacy councils. They also researched, wrote, and published their own books, illuminating the importance of literacy. In places like Louisville, Kentucky, the Black residents in 1905, opened the first free public library for African American readers staffed and operated entirely by African Americans.
This brief history lesson establishes a clarion call to return to literacy in Black America as a necessity of life. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a sector of the U.S. Department of Education, Black students often lack necessary reading proficiency and comprehension skills. One national test last year, scored only 18 percent of Black 4th-graders proficient or above in reading; for 8th graders, the percentage fell to 15 percent. [White students charted equally dismal scores, with less than 50 percent proficiency on the same tests; only Asian students charted high proficiency at 89 percent.] In the District of Columbia, more than 70 percent of the 4th grade children in DC scored below basic on the NAEP.
“We need to get back to basics and refrain from blaming the kids, the parents, the neighborhoods, the teachers, and the mayor,” retired schoolteacher Rosalee Stoddard told the Informer. “The truth is that we are not working together as a community to ensure the success of the children in the nation’s capital. We are not supporting parents or teachers, and the children cannot be expected to perform successfully without that support.”
Stoddard, who has worked for Philadelphia, Texas, and D.C. school systems said that with the additional burdens D.C. students faced learning to read under COVID mandates to go virtual, all children became “at-risk” for falling behind.
So, what do we do about this? We work to kick things up a notch or two. We set aside gimmicks and fad fixes, and instead develop activities supported by homes, libraries, churches, and recreation centers that reinforce the instruction provided by teachers. This Informer Back to School supplement reopens the dialogue on what tools young people (and adults) need to improve their reading and comprehension skills. Let’s return to the days of fighting for our literacy.
Read, Learn, & Grow Dr. Shantella Sherman
BS-2
New School Year, Renewed Hopes and Dreams
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons
President of the Washington Teachers’ Union The members of the Washington Teachers’ Union, other school employees, students and their families know the start of a new school year brings energy, excitement and hope. Working together, teachers, parents and students will continue to overcome any challenges—pandemic or otherwise—to ensure our students receive the best possible education. This culture of resilience gives all of us a terrific launching pad for the 2022-23 school year.
WTU members will do everything we can to make this a great school year for each and every child. We are committed to building on last year’s success.
Thanks to a grant from the American Federation of Teachers, the WTU helped schools restart school gardens, schedule school trips, hold proms, produce school plays, open school libraries, provide a new book for every child who got vaccinated and hold end-of-school activities.
But we must do even better. And we can do better.
To do better, we must face facts and be honest with the public and each other. District of Columbia Public Schools has one of the lowest retention rates for teachers in the nation. According to a 2020 D.C. State Board of Education report, “on average 25 percent of public school teachers leave their school annually, compared to a national average of 16 percent and 19 percent in other urban cities.” This unacceptably low retention rate has terrible consequences for our students. And this report came out before the pandemic and today’s teacher shortage that is sweeping the nation.
The 2020 report identified the main factors for the district’s high teacher turnover, and things haven’t changed since then. It said the topdown teacher evaluation system has “created a polarizing environment and has become one of the leading drivers in teachers exiting. This evaluation system has left teachers frustrated and scared.” The report also mentioned burdens with work culture and workload, lack of support for teacher safety and mental health, and tensions with school leaders.
There is no better example of that tension than the fact that the WTU teachers’ contract expired nearly three years ago. In this time of high turnover, teachers have not had a cost-of-living increase or changes to improve their working conditions. The small increases that only some teachers receive don’t come close to keeping up with inflation. School leadership needs to stop stalling negotiations with unreasonable requests and remember who actually teaches the students—teachers. To keep teachers, the district will have to do better.
Other areas that the WTU will focus on this year include: • Continuing our work to reduce opportunity gaps, including to improve literacy, especially in underserved areas. We’re thrilled that—working with city leaders— every school now has a librarian. But that funding runs out at the end of the upcoming school year. Given the importance of the work of school librarians, we will work to ensure that funding school librarians is an ongoing budget item. • Expanding community schools. Community schools should be much more prevalent in the district. They offer students in-school wraparound services—often provided by the city, non-profit groups or businesses—to help overcome consequences of poverty. Depending on the schools’ needs, these could include health clinics, programs to help with social and emotional needs, food and clothing banks, tutoring and after-school enrichment programs. Community schools are extremely successful in helping students overcome challenges and be able to concentrate on school.
We have a lot of work to do this year. We pledge to work with families and communities to help ensure that every student gets the education they deserve.
WELCOME BACK, DCPS FAMILIES and EDUCATORS!
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS START AUG. 29. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE EVERYONE. Washington Teachers’ Union educators are excited to start the new school year.
We’ve all been through a lot in the last couple of years, and we honor the educators, school employees and families for their heroic work in getting our kids through it all.
We are committed to focusing on helping all DCPS children recover and succeed, by giving them the knowledge, skills, and social and emotional support they need to thrive. Our message to everyone: WORK HARD, DREAM BIG AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.
And remember: All students must have an up-to-date immunization certification on file with their school within the first 20 school days or they will not be able to attend school or school activities. Free vaccinations are available at school-based health centers, mobile vaccination units and Saturday vaccination block parties at schools. COVID-19 vaccines are available at D.C.’s COVID Centers in all eight wards.
www.wtulocal6.net
#OnePGCPS: What You Need to Know for Back-to-School!
Submitted by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS)
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is Maryland’s second-largest school district, but when it comes to teachers, administrators and students, the district is second to none!
This year, CEO Dr. Monica Goldson has encouraged the PGCPS community to believe in the “power of one” — each individual working collectively to build a thriving system of teaching, learning, equity and excellence.
“Families, educators, and staff are all integral to the success of the PGCPS community,” said Dr. Goldson. “This school year, stay informed and get involved — whether through volunteering, becoming a community partner, participating in a school PTA/PTO or giving your best every day.”
In preparation for back-to-school, take note of key dates and tips to start off strong.
Back-to-School Drive & Dash (Aug. 20)
Families are invited to the annual backpack and school supplies giveaway at High Point, Charles Herbert Flowers and Oxon Hill high schools beginning at 9 a.m. and while supplies last.
Student Orientation Day (Aug. 26)
PGCPS will host orientation for pre-kindergarteners, kindergarteners and new students along with new middle school students and rising ninth graders.
First Day of School (Aug. 29)
PGCPS will welcome back all students for the first day of school. Share your back-to-school moments on social media with #PGCPS1stDay.
For more information on the 2022-23 school year, view the Back-to-School Guide at www.pgcps.org.
5 Tips to Prepare for the School Year
Back-to-school is as easy as A-B-C with these top tips to get ready for #PGCPS1stDay!
1. Be Wise: Immunize!
All students must be up-to-date on all state-mandated vaccines before the beginning of this school year. The Prince George’s County Health Department is hosting community and school-based clinics all month. For information on dates and appointments, visit www.pgcps.org/immunizations. Eligible students are also encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
2. Apply for Free Meals
Families must complete the Free or Reduced Price Meals application for students to receive free breakfast and lunch at school. The federal waiver that provided free meals for all students during the pandemic has expired. This school year, families who do not qualify for free or reduced meals will be required to pay. Visit www.myschoolapps.com to apply.
3. Stay Connected!
Don’t miss important news and updates: Make sure contact information is updated in SchoolMax. Sign up to receive newsletters, text and email alerts on the PGCPS website and follow PGCPS on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn).
4. Get Transportation Help
Questions on student bus assignments? Our Transportation Call Center (301-952-6570) will be open to assist families prior to the first day of school from 8:00a.m. - 3:00p.m. on the following dates: Saturday, Aug. 20, Sunday, Aug. 21, Saturday, Aug. 27 and Sunday, Aug. 28.
5. Spread the Word:
Join #TeamPGCPS
PGCPS is seeking dynamic professionals, including teachers, nurses, bus drivers and support staff. Visit www. pgcps.org/careers to explore opportunities for the 2022-23 school year with the #1 team. Substitute teachers and paraprofessionals are also a critical part of school communities. Openings for short and long-term substitutes are available with higher salaries.
