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Home > Blogs > Springfield Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > May > 15
Friday, May 15, 2009
School reformer sees chance for change in Springfield
Some kids, like Geoffrey Canada, get lucky; most kids don’t.
Canada, one of the most prominent figures in today’s education reform landscape for his work with the Harlem Children’s Zone, spoke Friday, May 15, for the Nehemiah Foundation and through a Safe Schools Healthy Students presentation.
Canada credited his success in Harlem - one of the country’s poorest areas where all students in the Harlem Gems pre-school program have tested ready for kindergarten for seven years - with programs for the whole child that involve the family and the community to ensure success.
“I’m really excited about the possibilities here in Springfield,” Canada, a native of South Bronx, told a crowd of about 75 at the Heritage Center Friday night.
Growing up, Canada knew he needed to get accepted to one of four elite New York high schools or end up at his neighborhood school, “a terrible place for kids.”
He got lucky when he was able to move to Long Island for high school with his grandparents, despite not scoring high enough on the necessary exam to escape his neighborhood school.
Now he dedicates his time to creating a culture in Harlem where poor kids will receive an education that prepares them for success.
“I am convinced that our country is going to continue to waste millions of children- literally millions of children- by not improving the quality of their education and their lives in general,” he said.
Canada - who uses the word “my” to describe every one of the 7,500 students a year served by his programs - stressed strategies for success that had worked in Harlem, like beginning early, following kids through college, partnering with parents, community support and involvement, using data to identify strengths and weaknesses and redesigning schools for success.
He ended his speech with two challenges: to think outside the box and to make opportunities available for children.
“You never know what will save a child,” he said.
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