Imagine trying to boost graduation rates and test scores in a school where the turnover in students within the school is measured in months.
That happens at many Metro Nashville schools where transient student rates climb up to 45 percent.
Why are the rates so high? Ed Kindall, a 23-year veteran on the school board, says the problem is lack of affordable housing.
Poor families live one paycheck or car repair from losing the roof over their heads. When the inevitable crisis happens, they leave their homes to live with friends or elsewhere until they can gather enough money to try and climb the ladder again.
This constant mobility disrupts a child's education and without a good education, that child is likely to end up in the same dire straits in which he or she grew up. That is unless a gang or drug dealer offers them the chance to break the cycle.
Schools have no control over the availability or cost of housing. That responsibility falls on the city.
If Mayor Karl Dean and the rest of the Metro Council really want to help education, they will begin to deal with the issues over which they have control. Trying to insert themselves into the process of finding a new director or trying to dictate school policy is ignoring their real power to change the face of education in the city.
Metro government can become a partner in education if it tackles the issues for which it is responsible. Leaders can learn which schools have high turnover rates, then get to work creating programs that help families survive life's challenges without having to disrupt childrens' educations.
Metro government has an important role to play in education -- but it's not within the walls of the school house. When children arrive at school ready to learn and not distracted by problems in their families and neighborhoods, they can thrive.
Build a better Nashville and we'll get better schools.
-- Jim Grinstead
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