Rejecting the soft bigotry of low expectations

April 19, 2017

Editorial by Benjamin Navarro, for the Post and Courier

Early Friday morning, I started my day by reading a column that appeared
on these pages titled “The Warring Forces in the Education Battle.” Later, I
visited one of the third- grade classrooms in our Title One School, Meeting
Street Elementary @ Brentwood, a public-private partnership school run by
Meeting Street Schools with the power to make all staffing decisions
independently and choose our own best practices for educating underresourced
kids. As I observed the learning taking place that morning, I was
filled with great optimism for our students and deeply disturbed by what I
had read.I have no doubt the authors were well-intentioned, but their argument
protecting the status quo of education betrays the children of South Carolina
in the most insidious way possible.

In case you missed it, the authors basically argued that due to the
circumstances of under-resourced kids outside of school, there is little we
can do to improve the horrible outcomes we currently experience in almost
all public schools serving these kids — who, by the way, make up over half
of our students in South Carolina. The authors would have us believe that
the conditions these kids face outside of school — their family incomes,
transiency, and lack of access to health care, employment and mental health
services — make it impossible to expect that we can achieve educational
outcomes that are consistent with more affluent children. This is indeed the
soft bigotry of low expectations.

As I sat in that third-grade classroom, I watched two highly effective
teachers use cutting-edge curriculum as they taught kids about “juicy words”
from a book about a traveling African American family. The teachers
incorporated breakout groups, effective classroom management techniques,
gentle peer pressure, and pure joy of teaching to ensure that all kids
participated and performed. During that session, a specialist entered the
room, and a child who needed help happily dashed off to receive one-on-one
instruction. It was like watching a finely tuned orchestra perform, where the
whole became more than the sum of the parts! And then, what really blew
me away, was that I walked into the third grade classroom next door and
observed exactly the same thing happening — same book, same juicy words,
same music being played by the orchestra. So what does all this mean in
terms of outcomes?

If you came to one of our Friday community celebrations, where all families
are invited and many attend, you would see the schoolwide culture of caring
and excellence; the implementation of our “Path to Success” life skills
curriculum; and the report card conferences where 100 percent attendance is
guaranteed by a staff that relentlessly tracks down any absent parents and
caregivers. And most importantly, you would see the bottomless
commitment Brentwood’s teachers have to our kids and the comfort they
take in the expectation that the child’s next teacher will care just as much
and be just as diligent as they are. If ever that expectation isn’t met, that next
teacher will be managed out, because all decisions are made based on what
is best for kids.

And what about those pesky test scores? Look at how Brentwood’s
standardized MAP test results from last spring compared to all other North
Charleston Title I schools. At Brentwood, 80 percent of students scored in
the top two quartiles, and only 6 percent in the bottom quartile. By
comparison, only 36 percent of test results for students at other North
Charleston Title I schools were in the top two quartiles, and fully 35 percent
in the bottom quartile. Can you imagine? Top two quartiles means college or
vocational school, good job, bright future … while bottom quartile means
dropout or best case social promotion through school.

Those scores put Brentwood’s K-2nd grades in the 78-97th percentile out of
approximately 15,000 schools that take the MAP test; and North Charleston
in just the 13-25th percentile. Same kids, same neighborhood, same
circumstances … radically different outcomes.

To be sure, in order to achieve these results it takes enormous change from
the status quo of public education. But the next time someone says we can’t
do better in educating our kids because of where they come from, get angry
because it’s just not true. We can do so much better. We know because we
are already doing it.

Benjamin Navarro is the founder of Meeting Street Schools and founder and
CEO of Sherman Financial Group, a Charleston-based global investment
company.

 

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About Meeting Street Schools

Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.

Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.

While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.

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Our Schools

Meeting Street Academy – CharlestonDowntown Charleston, SC - Independent School - Since 2008 - 364 Students

Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.

Meeting Street Academy – SpartanburgDowntown Spartanburg, SC - Public Charter School - Since 2012 - 323 Students

Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Meeting Street – BrentwoodNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2014 - 850 Students

Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.

Meeting Street – BurnsNorth Charleston, SC - Public School - Since 2018 - 478 Students

Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.

Meeting Street – Jasper & BeaufortJasper County, SC - Public Charter School - Fall 2023 -

Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort represents Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the Meeting Street ethos of empowerment through education.

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“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”

— NikToshia GilesTeacher

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“Meeting Street Academy is my family. They taught me that I am valuable. I am an asset to the world…They asked me, ‘What is your dream?’ I had never been asked that before. The MSS community gives me the strength to pursue my dreams.”

— Kadelyn SteedStudent

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“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”

— Tyeka GrantParent

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