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The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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MMSD plans a start, but lack direction

Most people pay little attention to school board elections, despite the fact that the school board has significant authority over their local school district and, therefore, the community as a whole.
The Madison Board of Education election for the Madison Metropolitan School District is getting some uncommon attention, largely due to a major initiative to close the achievement gap which was recently announced. The candidates, Nichelle Nichols and Arlene Silveira (the incumbent), discussed their positions on the big issues in an interview published in last Wednesday’s Isthmus.

Madison, despite consistently being ranked among the most educated cities in America, has one of the worst achievement gaps between white students and students of color. White students in MMSD perform significantly better than their black and Latino peers.

The MMSD initiative is commendable. First and foremost, it is praiseworthy that the district is recognizing and beginning to address the problem. The plan to close the achievement gap seeks to do so by improving the following areas: instruction and support, college and career readiness, culturally relevant practices, safe and positive school environments, family engagement and a diverse and qualified workforce, according to the MMSD website. 

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They have some good ideas. In the area of instruction and support, the district is aiming to lengthen the school day and expand summer school opportunities for the students who are doing the worst. These could both have positive benefits, and the district is doing the right thing by targeting those students who need the help most.

Unfortunately, however, many of the district’s ideas will probably have very little effect, and in other places, the initiative is completely bereft of any actual substance. For example, an entire portion of the plan is dedicated to trying to engage parents more, but the truth is that the parents who care about their children’s education already are engaged. The parents who do not care are not just going to start now because someone tells them they should. The plan to recruit a diverse and qualified workforce is, at the moment, nonexistent. Its budget is a small fraction of the budget of other areas of the plan, and the only goal is basically to recruit a more diverse workforce by encouraging minority students to stay in the district as teachers.

But despite its faults, it is something. It’s a start.

If any city can tackle this problem, it is Madison. The reality is that very little has been accomplished thus far in closing the achievement gap across America, but Madison has always been 77 square miles surrounded by reality.

However, there are a few other problems to note. The first is that the achievement gap, although largely a discrepancy between the academic success of white and minority students, is just as much – if not more – a discrepancy between the academic success of students from wealthy families and students from poor families.

Second, although it makes sense for school board members to focus on internal reforms, the schools also need external reforms. The line between these two is often blurry anyway, and school board members should not be afraid to call for external help when it is needed. Silveira seems to be a bigger proponent of taking a more holistic approach to closing the achievement gap, citing the need for dialogue with the community about its causes. Nichols seems more focused solely on internal reforms.

Third, another huge and related issue is the proposed preparatory school for black male students. This is controversial, and it is not easy to evaluate whether it is a good solution. It could be, but perhaps initially only as a stepping stone or even as an experimental measure. The candidates differ on this issue as well, with Nichols supporting it as a drastic measure that could bring about real change. Silveira, conversely, opposes the prep school for a number of practical reasons.

There is real difference between the positions of the candidates. With such momentous issues at stake, it is little wonder that the school board election is getting considerable attention. The education of our children affects all Madisonians, not just students and their parents. Our generation will have our time soon, but the next one will have to clean up our mess.

Ryan Plesh ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in philosophy and physics.

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