March 7 2024- The article highlights a stark contrast in educational outcomes between public schools in major cities like Chicago and Baltimore and a small school in Mississippi, the Piney Woods School. It notes that in numerous Chicago and Baltimore public schools, no students are performing at grade level in math or reading. In contrast, the Piney Woods School in Mississippi, despite being located in a poor state, sees Black children excel, with high acceptance rates to colleges. The author suggests that the success of the Piney Woods School lies in its community-based approach, where teachers, staff, and students are committed to a shared mission. The school provides a comprehensive moral and intellectual education, emphasizing the importance of fostering relationships based on agreed-upon morality. The article argues that successful solutions to educational challenges must come from within communities, rather than being imposed externally. The Piney Woods School serves as an example of the potential for positive outcomes when a community is committed to a particular mission and values-based education
We know how to save children from failing schools, so why don’t we do it?