‘Is Our School a Bad School?’ Educator’s Resounding ‘No’

I recently spent the day at Willard Intermediate School in Santa Ana for the California Department of Education’s “Principal for a Day” program.

As “principal,” I experienced a typical day in the lives of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders. When Principal Howard Haas, along with the student body president and vice president, greeted me at 7:30 a.m, I had no idea what I was in for! From that moment, I was caught up in the energy of 1,300 youngsters and a plethora of activities--from the mundane to the sublime, from stalled cars to violins. A principal’s duties, I soon learned, involve decisions about the basics--not only reading and writing, but water and power. I can’t praise the teachers at Willard enough for the magnificent job they do engaging the students in learning. The enthusiasm, variety of arts and science projects, and the excitement that the kids themselves generate can barely be contained within the confines of the school! The vitality is palpable, and it breaks every stereotype of an inner-city school: The walls vibrant with student art and poetry, the classrooms alive with student voices. Additionally, the politeness and courtesy the children exhibited remains a strong impression. Whenever I entered a classroom, the children stood up--from my experience, a measure of respect not generally associated with public schools.

Students asked me, because of the neighborhood in which Willard is located, “Is our school a bad school?” After being “principal,” I can say no, just the opposite. We are so inundated with what’s wrong with public education, here’s an example of why we should look into our schools and see the hands-on learning of an average day. It gave me an overview of today’s schools: new student populations, teaching strategies and materials, parental involvement, bus schedules and facilities management. The brisk pace, the intensity of the daily schedule left me exhausted--and amazed. It was such a contrast to the serenity of the university environment, I felt like an athlete who had been severely out of training trying to run again.

Certainly, Willard is in a tough neighborhood. But I have this image of the school at the end of the day: The neighborhood does not cast the school in shadow as powerfully as the school brings life and color to the neighborhood.

JUAN FRANCISCO LARA

Juan Francisco Lara is director of the Educational Opportunity Program and associate director of admissions at UC Irvine.