Turning the Community School Upside Down
On Tuesday, we pondered the concern that the community schools approach recently championed by Randi Weingarten of the AFT could turn schools into "social service agencies of last resort" while driving education to the margins. This is indeed a danger, we argued, when schools must use their money to "fill the void" left by cuts to essential social services.
A recent story in the Washington Post bears out this fear: Apparently, teachers are assuming medical duties--even managing students' diabetes--as more school nurses get their walking papers. Not only is this situation potentially dangerous, it distracts teachers from teaching. This is a perversion of what should be happening. It turns the community school model on its head.
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