The Harlem Children's Zone, writes New York Times reporter Paul Tough, is "the first and so far the only organization in the country that pulls together ... integrated social and educational services for thousands of children" — all under one umbrella, all in one place, all at one time. It's the brainchild of education and social-services reformer Geoffrey Canada, and it's nothing less than an audacious poverty-eradication effort that, as Publishers Weekly explains, is "predicated upon changing everything" in the New York City neighborhoods it targets, "creating an interlocking web of services targeted at the poorest and least likely-to-succeed children."
The agency, with an annual budget of $58 million, serves 8,000 kids in a 97-block neighborhood of Harlem. Tough, who's spent five years reporting on Canada's organization, and who's written a new book on the project, writes that "as students progress through an all-day prekindergarten and then through a charter school, they have continuous access to community supports like family counseling, after-school tutoring and a health clinic." All of that institutional structure is "designed to mimic the often-invisible cocoon of support and nurturance that follows middle-class and upper-middle-class kids through their childhoods." Both Tough and Canada discuss the genesis and the implications of a program whose ultimate goal is "to produce children with the abilities and the character to survive adolescence in a high-poverty neighborhood, to make it to college and to graduate.”
Listen to the interview on NPR, and discuss how this project compares to No Child Left Behind. What is needed for innovative approaches to combat poverty and really address educational opportunities for low-income children? What do you think of a comprehensive approach like Canada's?
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*I wrote a lot so I put up 2 posts
PART 1 of 2
The No Child Left Behind NCLB is an Act of Congress, where it is believed that setting high values and standards and instituting considerable goals to improve individual outcomes in education. NCLB provides information on reading, testing, etc. Similar to this is the Harlem Children’s Zone, a type of organization put together to help the poor children in Harlem, New York. Harlem is has very high poverty, which leads to dropping out in schools, and even worse, losing hope. In places, such as these, children here are expected to be at the bottom and just not do well in life. However, President and CEO of Harlem’s Children’s Zone, Jeffrey Canada, is changing that stigma. In poor places, like Harlem, access to health care is unavailable, increase in crime rate, schools aren’t affordable, and drop out rates are high. Harlem children, according to Canada, were at the bottom of everything and that was accepted for the past 25 years.
In order to combat poverty and really address educational opportunities for low income children is to focus not only on one set of solution, but to focus on all possible solutions. For us to really help these children, we really need to focus on all solutions equally, whether it is education, healthcare, the public health system, reaching out to the communities to inform parents about the available resources and so on. There are so many ways to really address this issue and to help out. The possibilities are kind of endless. In the radio talk show, an English teacher named Sue, who also works with grownups, said that many parents are not adequately educated, so that they may be able to teach their children. However, Canada tells her that even parents, those who are illiterate, needs to be reached and taught that although they may not be able to teach their children to read or write in English, there are other ways to, such as bringing them to their local library.
I believe what Jeffrey Canada is doing is an excellent way to really reach out and lend a hand to the poor children in Harlem. He has been working in Harlem for about 12 years and what he is doing through this organization is providing service and care for these poor, low income children. He mentions that the achievement gap has been eliminated because the scores received from students here are not comparable to those who have been educated all their life. So, even the achievement gap in the math are has been closed.
*continue to PART 2 of 2
PART 2 of 2
Education is so important that it not only benefits the students on a smaller scale, but at a global scale. Canada states that, not only do you benefit from a college degree, those around you are affected as well and future generations. While getting them TO college is one thing, but we also need to get them THROUGH college.
A Virginia substitute teacher mentioned that although the school hours and education during those hours are important, what is just as important, if not more, are the before and after school hours. Canada completely agreed and said that poor communities do not really have an option for that and so we need to focus on that as well. I agree with both of them. Learning new materials in school is important, however if a child is ill-prepared, such as not being able to eat a good well balanced breakfast or did not get enough sleep, he or she will not be able to perform at their most optimal level.
When Canada was talking to Alice, a Elementary school teacher from Sacramento, California, he tells her that focusing on the student’s elementary education is excellent; and helping them out through programs such as a non-profit organization or providing them with free or reduced lunches are excellent to help out. But we also need to make sure that once they finish elementary school, will they be able to move on to middle school? And if they do, will these children receive the same quality care, if not better? We need to take all of this into consideration. I agree with Canada that we need to make sure what we are teaching our children will help them in their next step life.
Arnold, from Denver, who works in Public Health is also working on this issue, but from a different angle. He wanted to know how we are going to afford this for the millions of children and where do we start, because there are so many different starting points that we can start from. Canada told him that we are already spending millions of dollars in the same families, and an additional five thousand dollars per child per year is spent. What we need to do is make the “right initial investments” and that way we would be saving large amounts of money. This completely makes sense. If what we did initially did things the right way initially, that would probably be the best investment ever made. To Arnold’s second question, Canada points we should not be setting our eyes on just one access, but rather every possible solution there is. In order to really reach out to these children, we need to focus on all of it. I agree with this as well. Just like how children need before and after school care, we need to focus on everything, from their health, education, what they are eating, if they are getting enough sleep, and so much more.
Education is extremely important for all children, no matter the disability. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress that was originally proposed by the administration of President George W. Bush. This act is based on the belief that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals can improve individual outcomes in education. The Harlem Children's Zone is a type of organization that includes integrated social and educational services for thousands of children. The program mainly focuses on the children who are the poorest and the least likely-to-succeed. The President and CEO of Harlem's Children's Zone, Geoffrey Canada, is attempting to change this viscous cycle. Where access to health care is unavailable to people, crime rates are high, schools are unaffordable for children, and drop out rates are high for all levels of schooling, it is important to recognize this issue and take some type of action. In Harlem, Geoffrey Canada did just that and decided he was going to take a stand on this issue.
There a several ways to focus our attention on this issue, and to do something about it. One substitute teacher from Virginia, brought up the importance to have before and after school care for children. It is important for children to eat breakfast before school to help them focus better in the classroom. It is equally as important to receive after school care to get their homework done and to continue learning in a healthy environment, instead of going home and playing video games all afternoon or getting into trouble. Although this is what a child needs to be able to perform at their greatest potential, these resources are not always available in poorer communities. Canada explains that this is an issue we definitely need to target and do something about.
Canada has a conversation with an elementary school teacher from Sacramento, California helping her students out through different programs such as a free or reduced lunches, health care services, and counseling interns from local universities. Canada points out that we need to make sure that once they move on to middle school, these same programs need to be provided. If they are, will these children receive the same care? I agree with Canada that we need to make sure that we are teaching our children on a continual level always preparing them for their next step. He also states that it is not always just getting through elementary school that makes one successful. It is important that they receive the support from their parents to go through all of the steps in the schooling process and get completely through college as well.
A woman from Savanna works with adults helping them learn English, so they can pass that on down to their children. If the parents know English, they can help their children with their reading, and on other homework as well. Canada states that we need more programs that help second language learners. Parents can bring their kids to museums or libraries to further their educational experiences. You do not have to have English as your first language to go many places such has museums and libraries.
Arnold from Denver works in public health. He wonders how we will afford to provide care and education to all the millions of individuals from birth through college. Canada replies with the fact that we already spend hundreds of millions on people to go to the emergency room, prisons, and special education. We need to make the the right initial investments, and the best ones are aiming to get children on the right track to become successful in life.
It is important to focus on every child to help make sure they get the resources they need to move on from college, get a good job, and maybe provide for a family. As a child, it is important that they get the basic necessary needs to move on successfully and healthfully in their lives.
Harlem Children's Zone is an organization created by Geoffery Canada. This establishment creates a safe environment for low income parents and children while engaging in family counseling and after school tutoring. This is one of the few programs in poor areas such as Harlem that need a positive outlet to keep children away from negative influences such as crime and drug abuse. Canada has taken the initiative to provide the children of Harlem, a place with extreme poverty, a promising future and education. This project is different from the No Child Left behind Act of 2001 because it is helping the children reach their educational goals by actually working with the children to achieve those goals. The NCLB, under the administration of George Bush, is believed that setting high standards can improve individual outcomes in education. This act holds schools accountable and funding is determined on how well the students are doing. While NCLB is only instructing the teachers to teach mainly about the test rather than general education, Harlem Children's Zone ultimate goal is to “produce children with the abilities and the character to survive adolescence in a high-poverty neighborhood, to make it to college and to graduate.” The children cannot perform well academically if their lives at home are at stake.
I believe several innovative approaches need to take place in order to combat the issue of poverty. Firstly, I whole heartedly agree with the Virginia substitute teacher on the radio show that suggested adequate care before and after school for children. We need positive role models to outweigh the negative ones in the neighborhood such as drug dealers and gangs. College students should be hired to help children with homework at the after school programs so they see the young adults who are pursuing their education. While exposing them to positive role models, their parents need family counseling to deal with barriers that reduce access to proper resources. Bilingual parents, single parents and many more variety of families may face difficulties of acquiring public assistance or employment which causes them to fall into poverty. The larger government needs to implement affordable housing for those who cannot afford it and help them met their basic needs. When it comes to the problem of almost dying because of no health insurance or being fired because no transportation to work, the government should step in to secure the parents and children. Proper funding needs to be considered for the 8,000 children living in Harlem and in other low-income areas around the country. Canada mentioned in the broadcast that we are already spending money on these same families but the initial investment must come correct and we need comprehensive approaches.
Canada’s approach is a wonderful initiative because he has researched what programs were not successful and tries to steer away from following in those steps. He has an effective perspective on how he wants to construct his vision but I think him going to need more help with the bigger government. I do agree with his focus on helping the families function properly. He stated he was raised in a single parent family and it is not easy. He knows firsthand what single parents need in order for their families to keep away from poverty. Since he has this insight, he is also a living testimony that you do not have to be a product of your environment and can encourage that theory to children in familiar experiences. I hope this foundation receives more funding so it can continue to succeed the lives of the next generation.
One of the most important things I believe need to occur to keep children educated is educating the parents. .226 commented that education is extremely important for all children regardless of any disablities. That means even if the child has a learning disorder or has parents who do not have resources for proper teaching material. Some parents do not have jobs therefore no money to buy books to read to their children. Other parents may not have a stable address and have no way of their child recieving a library card with no working address. We ought to send teachers and skilled human service professionals into the homes of these families and teach the parents how to educate their children in and out of school. One thing I have learned is education is a continuing process. Even when we take breaks from school in the summer, you still have to know basic skills such as counting money or creating resumes. No child or parent is going to want to learn if their home is filled with disruptions such as rats or mice, no running water or even witnessing domestic violence. .226 said living in a healthy enviornment can promte the child performing at his greatest potential. I believe Harlem's Children's Zone is doing a wonderful job initatiing a program that focues on getting children out of poverty and educating them.
I meant .262 regarding the comments within my response.
Canada’s program compares to No Child Left Behind in that it is more comprehensive and targets specific groups instead of testing to receive money from the government. No Child Left Behind focuses on test skills and “teaching to the test”. I actually found out, and have been following Canada and the Harlem Children’s Zone, for a few years when I first saw him in MSNBC’s “Black in America 2”. Canada’s program is more comprehensive and reaches the community with providing and promoting healthcare, mentoring, tutoring and social skills. What’s needed for innovative approaches to combat poverty and really address educational opportunities for low-income children first and foremost is more people like Canada! There need to be more people who are willing to give up money, fame and fortune for helping others that may or may not be like you. It is important that dedicated people that care about children in poverty enough to spend the time and devote the effort to make sure that these kids achieve and succeed further than they are expected. I think that Canada’s approach is very effective and he has reached a lot of people by staring in American Express’ most recent television commercial and “Black in America 2”, hopefully they find out more about Canada and his program and feel touched by it and therefore encompass his ideals. These ideals include after school programs, healthcare, good nutrition, parent classes and a devotion to teaching.
The effect of poverty on teachers is extreme because teachers are the people that are with the children the most. They have a huge impact on the success of children in poverty. As a result, there are various implications of what this means for teachers.
Protecting children's learning is identified as finding ways to activate previously disengaged students, even if that means offering learning opportunities after school. They will go out of their way to ensure that children are learning, and in a capacity that is most appropriate for that individual child. An example of a way that teachers can protect student learning would be to understand the importance of the time at the beginning and ending of class. This means not wasting time at the beginning of class with something like roll taking, or at the end of class with something like clean up. Instead, start class with an activity to quickly engage them in learning. Also, being a persistent teacher means constantly trying new things. It is characteristic of a persistent teacher to whole-heartedly believe that each and every one of their students is capable of achieving academic success. This means that they do not just selectively define which students are considered to be "at-risk" based on the typical definition, being children who are at a disadvantage due to their home environments (SES, etc.). In order to move a student from being at-risk of failure to a successful student, teachers must make learning relevant for the student, and provide a connected school environment. The teacher will differentiate learning opportunities, whether it is for the auditory learner, the visual learner, or the kinesthetic learner. This way, all students will be engaged in learning. Also, the teacher will use modeling strategies, plan with the end in mind, and focus on the student as an individual in order to make sure that they are applying generalizations in their classroom. Taking a professional orientation to teaching over a personal orientation to teaching will help children of poverty succeed. This teacher leads students to success through the emphasis on the significance of effort in learning over ability. An effective urban teacher understands that fallibility-the understanding that they are human beings who make mistakes-is a reality. Therefore, these teachers are quick to apologize to a student, as well as quick to publicly acknowledge a mistake and apologize for that as well. Also, the teacher realizes the value of using their situation as a learning opportunity for their students, and will teach them about fallibility as a result. This will make the teacher "real" to the students and help them gain respect.
The Harlem Children's Zone is a program that provides social and medical services to people in the Harlem community. The program offers parenting workshops, and runs charter schools for the children of its community. The program is trying to help break the cycle of poverty within the African American community. The issue was children of Harlem would end up in the bottom of the school system and it was accepted in the community, so there needed to be a solution. The no child left behind project is based on the belief that setting high standards and goals can improve individual outcomes in education. Therefore this act requires states to develop assessments in basic skills to be given to all students in certain grades, if those states are to receive federal funding for schools. The act is not set as national achievement but standards are set by each individual state. The program have in common that they are trying set standards high for better education and to not let children be at the bottom of the pool of academics and close the achievement gap. If we reach low income and poverty stricken families by changing the trajectory for these kids and the generation to follow by putting these kids through college we can combat poverty and address educational opportunity. Also to looking at studies how children develop language skills and connect the gap between black and white children to end poverty as well. I like this approach because I feel it will really reach poverty stricken communities and change their outlook on life which will help them come out of poverty.
This project compares with No Child Left Behind because it does entail reaching at risk children in schools and improving their educational skills. Children may fall behind in school not based on their own intelligence but because of the resources available to them and many different environmental conditions. Both of these problems seek to raise the standards for children’s education however they are two very different approaches. The innovative approach that is needed for low-income children that the Harlem program targets is children’s resources and access to basic needs. In order for a student to be productive in school, they need to be physically and emotionally well, which may include being able to go to the hospital, or therapist, as well as eating a balanced diet. This program addresses the environmental factors outside of school. I agree with 322 that a comprehensive approach needs to be taken to help low-income children because school or studying may not be a top priority when basic needs such as having access to food or shelter have not been met. Both are equally important. I think targeting these areas are a good idea, which has proven to work according to Canada, shown through the students that have caught up for their grade level and have moved on past high school. I think the No Child Left behind program targets teachers, and school curriculum to be based around a specific test, instead of actually understanding why children have lower scores to begin with and addressing other areas of influence besides schools not working hard enough (maybe they do not have access to the same materials that other schools have such as computers and textbooks). Another point to add to what 322 is saying is that while it is important to follow up on students after they leave a school or transition it is also important to be able to reach more low-poverty children. While Harlem’s program is excellent and seems to work, this is only a small fraction of the low poverty children that live in New York, and similarly programs such as this may not be able to be funded or built in other areas of America. New York is a very resourceful city with access to a lot of different resources that children in rural areas do not. The problem with low-poverty children’s performance in schools is a variety of things but this program show how these resources are so important for education.
I think Geoffrey Canada’s program is an excellent approach to helping children in poverty! Achievement gap—it is clear that the students in this program have been able to eliminate the gap between whites and the students who were in the program from birth etc, so has shown that the these gaps really do have so much to do with structure and environment and so little to do with the children themselves. These children start off life behind whites and only to continue to fall farther and farther behind each year; so comprehensive programs like Canada’s are necessary to bridge the gap and allow children in poverty to have access to resources that will allow them to make up in areas where their socioeconomic status has caused them to fall short. Likewise, by helping these current children, you are helping these children’s children and grandchildren—you are helping future generations to succeed and hopefully helping to alleviate the need for programs like this.
In order to combat poverty and address educational opportunities for low-income children it is important to provide individual attention to children and to provide children with both before and after-school programs to help stimulate children in the time they have available to them after school. Similarly, I think it is important for society to work to help alternative families (i.e. single parent households) to give these families access to necessary resources and aid to help them more easily juggle work and caring for children.
I find this program (HCZ) to be a much better approach than the No Child Left Behind Act because it deals with the web of aspects that affects a child’s ability to succeed, while NCLB focuses entirely on one aspect—education. While HCZ works to impact families and communities well-being in order to impact the child in that way (as well as by working with the children individually), NCLB only works to “fix” the school system and this causes many issues like “teaching to the test” for example.
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