Making Inner-City Schools Work

During class discussion on the 23rd, we spoke at length about urban school systems – what makes or breaks them? In almost a “What Came First the Chicken or the Egg?” scenario, we asked if its parents (human capital) that make an inner-school system function effectively, or is it funding (financial capital)?

Looking at our own Birmingham school system, one can see the vast differences. Suburbia schools such as Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood, and Hoover are a calling card for a real estate promotion of “Good local schools” while inner-city Birmingham schools suffer with a history of poor financial and peer support.

Recently the grassroots community group Yes! We Can was pinpointed for their strategic and valiant efforts in reforming Birmingham City Schools, but not with money or rewards. They were rewarded with time, commitment, and invaluable listening by Birmingham’s leaders as the Birmingham Board of Education requested that their recent study of the city schools be integrated with a professional consulting group’s assignment.

Yes! We Can held dozens of community meetings over a six-month period to discuss what can be done to help make the schools safer, stronger and more accountable. The end result was a list of 14 goals for the system, such as better communication among the school board, administrators, parents, teachers and the community; stronger accountability; and equitable distribution of school system resources.

It is another example of how human capital can literally take the responsibility (or burden) of reform on their shoulders to galvanize their own community. With such earnest commitment to Birmingham’s schools, the Yes! We Can effort will be recognized as the official “voice” of the people in the Board of Education’s strategic plan.

The Yes! We Can Birmingham website can be found here.

The Birmingham News article featuring the accomplishments of Yes! We Can can be found here.