Open Letter to the Board of Ed 5

To: Oakland Board of Education
John A. Scerbo, Russell Talamini, Robert Akovity, James Gaffney, Jennifer Matts

It was with deep regret that I learned of the Oakland School Board’s new policy concerning the distribution of “backpack flyers” to Oakland students.

While distributing printed flyers can be an imposition concerning staff time, and are not environmentally friendly, the new limitations seem to negate the bond between school and community which many in Oakland value.

Allowing only the Oakland Education Foundation, the library, and Oakland Recreation to distribute “backpack flyers” is a disservice to the many other organizations that work for the betterment of Oakland youth.

The Father’s Club, the Mother’s Club, the Sports Association, Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts, the Women’s Club or the Garden Club and other organizations devote their time, effort, and money to serve Oakland’s children – sponsoring important local events; and, the Board of Education policy fails to reflect the important roles these organizations play in the community and the education process

The children of Oakland do not live in school – they live in Oakland – and it is reasonable to expect the Oakland Board of Education to participate with the promotion of sports, science, artistic and cultural programs that benefit the children and the community of Oakland.

The School Board’s refusal to promote the second semester of cultural classes offered by the SAO is how I learned about this new policy. As my daughter took several classes, I was disappointed that this affordable opportunity was no longer an option for her; the SAO is now canceling the program due to their inability to reach out to Oakland students in a fiscally responsible manner via the backpack flyer.

How does the Board of Education justify sending home any backpack flyer at all when it cannot support this grassroots effort to expand education? The Sports Association of Oakland is a non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to Oakland, the teachers in the last semester of cultural classes were all Oakland residents, as were all the children.

The policy of the School Board breaks the bond that the Oakland community of non-profit volunteers previously shared with the school district. Concerning the SAO specifically, it has deprived students with an affordable option when it comes to participating in classes on writing, drama, photography and art.

Many Oakland residents cannot afford to enroll their children in classes operated by for-profit businesses – and even organizations such as the Wyckoff Y offer programs that are financially out of reach.

While the need to control “backpack flyers” distributed by local non-profits might be a practical matter, it seems this new policy was not properly considered as to how it impacts the social fabric of a community that prides itself on volunteer efforts.

Oakland is a special place, but there are many other communities that also put a high value on their children’s education and the importance community plays in the educational process. These school boards have managed to implement policies concerning backpack flyers that were well thought out, appropriate, and responsible.

It is reasonable to assume that district staff must devote time to coordinating the distribution of these backpack flyers; but, it is also reasonable to assume that the school board would take a neutral viewpoint and establish proper guidelines that are in the best interest of the children – and not necessarily consider only the interests of staff.

Oakland is a town renowned for its sports program, and the efforts of the Sports Association of Oakland to help promote recreational activities that involve cultural programs should be applauded.

Programs such as these help temper the heavy focus on physical prowess that can too often dominate a community. The school board should be opening up their classrooms for such programs, not erecting obstacles with such an ill devised policy.

Those students who are not athletically inclined, or are uninterested in sports, have limited options in Oakland. The School Board’s decision not to help promote this cultural opportunity is disturbing, shameful, and unfortunately raises doubts as to whether you truly understand the concept of education as a way of life — and not just an industry.

It also raises very serious doubts as to whether you fully understand the dynamics involved with bullying and drug abuse, and whether you actually have the capacity to address these  issues in a meaningful manner.

It is not normally the star athlete who gets bullied or turns to drugs, it is usually not the child who is a member of various team sports – most often it is the isolated child. Those children who are involved in sports, in the arts, and can follow a passion are less prone to drug abuse, less likely the victim of bullying.

The classes offered by the Sports Association of Oakland offered those children whose interests were more creative and cultural an opportunity to socialize, to be a part of a group, to learn and to grow in confidence.

While my awareness of this flawed policy only came to light due to the cancellation of the SAO cultural classes, I believe this policy is a detriment to the entire community of  Oakland non-profits.

As elected members of the Oakland School Board, it must be assumed that you have an interest in education, and must know that true education is not limited to what transpires behind the walls of a classroom – that is not reflected in this policy. When a school system sets itself apart from the greater community as you have done, it does a disservice to the students, to the community, and to the ultimate goal of education.

The motto adopted by the School Board, “Oakland ….A learning community committed to excellence”, rings hollow. I only hope that you might seek guidance from other school boards who continue to support their local communities, value the work of their local non-profits, and as a result promote a true learning community.

If you would like any assistance in remedying this flawed policy imposed in Oakland, or would like references to those towns that truly are “learning communities”, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Charles McCormick
Manito School District