Over the last several years, we have been critical of the Hamilton County Department of Education for a lack of progress in its low-performing schools, for an absence of oversight in some of its schools and for an inability to pivot to new and innovative thinking in solving some of its most pressing problems.
We are critical because we believe education is key to success in life. We don't need to parrot anyone's statistics that parallel the level of education with success in marriage, success in a career and success in lifetime earnings. Most people, after all, understand the link without a single cited figure.
Later this week, the Hamilton County School system opens its 2017-2018 term with a new superintendent and, we hope, new expectations. Despite its flaws, the district can offer any willing student who has the support of a parent or guardian at home an excellent education and, in many cases, an unparalleled education.
Before teachers, parents and students think we're jumping the gun, though, school begins this Thursday specifically for Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA). The rest of the schools start a week later. But CGLA, one of the district's three charter schools, is offering its students a week of transitional programming, relationship building and celebration.
Before the graded work on English, math, science and history commences, students there will be able to discuss the likes of college readiness, financial management, technology, health and wellness, bullying, careers and community service. The week also includes a cookout, games, college visits and shared discussions involving students and faculty.
The concept for the small, single-gender charter school may not be scalable for large high schools, but even an evening event with a potluck meal provided by parents and community volunteers and an icebreaker program might help prove the thinking that students who attend school on the first day are more enthusiastic about their education and more hopeful about their futures.
"Acknowledging that students need time to adapt and recalibrate from the relaxing days of summer to the structured educational environment sets a positive tone for the launch of a new school year," CGLA Executive Director Dr. Elaine Swafford said in a news release.
The year will begin with the recent ranking of Tennessee as having the 10th worst school system in America, according to a WalletHub analysis that compared states across 21 measures of quality and safety from pupil-teacher ratio to dropout rate to median standardized test scores.
The state finished above average in median SAT score (16th), average in pupil-teacher ratio (27th), math test scores (29th) and bullying incidence rate (31st) but below average in reading test scores (36th), median ACT score (39th), percent of threatened/injured high school students (42nd) and percent of licensed/certified public K-12 teachers (43rd).
While we do not believe that ranking gives an accurate picture of the strides Tennessee has made in K-12 education over the last seven years, we acknowledge the state can improve. Fortunately, it has a governor and an education commissioner focused on that end.
Nevertheless, we repeat that we believe any willing student with proper support can achieve here. From magnet schools to specialty schools like the Mechatronics Akademie at Volkswagen to charter schools, the district offers alternatives to zoned schools. But even the zoned schools, from high-performing to low-performing, offer specialized classes and programs that cater to various interests and can be precursors for living wage-paying career jobs.
Fortunately, several Hamilton County nonprofits would like the classes and those who teach them to be even stronger and offer opportunities to make that happen. On Sunday, for instance, the Public Education Foundation Teacherpreneur Pitch Night allowed 22 teachers from 16 Hamilton County schools the chance to make their case for a classroom concept that might get money and support to "take ideas from concept to classroom."
So, perhaps coming to a classroom near you, are a drone-racing competition initiative (the first-place idea), a fun fitness workout plan that involves math (the first runner-up), or a restorative practices behavior plan (second runner-up).
New Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson has started his tenure here in a district with a number of challenges, but it's a district which also has the capacity to turn out the best and the brightest students.
Indeed, we dream of success for the schools on the level of a hyperbolic quote by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016: "We're gonna win so much you may even get tired of winning, and you'll say, please, please, it's too much winning. We can't take it anymore."
If the "winning" concerns our local schools, though, we're willing to risk it.