Waiting for Superman documentary - discuss how it helps volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs

[Daniel Bassill]

Last weekend the Waiting for Superman movie opened. It's purpose is to focus attention on a broken public education system and bring people together to build a better one.

Have you seen it? Have you visited the WOF web site to join the discussion and learn from the resources provided? 

I wrote about the movie on my blog after I saw it in July.  While this movie focuses on what happens in schools, what is it doing to help non-school tutor/mentor programs attract the resources each needs to influence what happens in the non-school hours, away from schools?

Share your thoughts and share any media articles or blog posts that you find that relate to this.

[Daniel Bassill]

Separate and unequal schools. Read Bog Herbert's March 21, 2011 article.

[Daniel Bassill]

Have you visited the Education Nation web site?  Big forum in Chicago last night. Wonder if the Waiting for Superman people are connected to this.

[Daniel Bassill]

This article combines ideas from coaching football teams to critical comments about Teach for America.

 

I'd like to find ways to connect with more coaches and athletes. They understand teamwork and at the higher levels they also understand the personal work ethic that goes into being successful.  They also understand the role of fans, boosters and investors in making sure they have great facilities, equipment and coaching tools.Thesearticles express this concept,

 

If there were this type of support for inner city schools and non-school tutor/mentor programs we'd have more success educating kids.

[Daniel Bassill]

This article on the Huffington Post and this one inEducation Week both point to a Harvard report that shows different ways to help kids prepare for careers other than the traditional college route.

 

This blog article that I wrote in 2007 focuses on the vocational path to jobs and careers.

[Daniel Bassill]

"A" students tend to become professors, and "C" students become wealthy donors...

I heard this story a few years ago from an elderly Black man who was a successful business man. It's used in this article by Larry Summers.  I encourage you to addthis article and The Daily Riffto your reading list.

[Daniel Bassill]

Here's a new article about Waiting for Superman, challenging the accuracy of some of the claims made in the movie. 

[Daniel Bassill]

Here's a new article about Waiting for Superman, challenging the accuracy of some of the claims made in the movie.

[Bradley Troast]

Thanks for posting all of these links, Dan. I am browsing them now.

One thing I got from the movie is that improving education is everyone's responsibility. There is no one answer that an official or a researcher will figure out. So I think if each individual can chip in in his or her own way, collectively we can make a difference. One way to do that is by volunteering, and we have had several new volunteers get involved with Cabrini Connections after seeing the movie. They may only think they are helping one child in one program, but if all adults contribute in some capacity, I would like to think it will go a long way towards improvement on a mass scale.

[Daniel Bassill]

This article on Collective Action really relates to this shared responsibility.

This video showing how to use OHATS illustrates how people from different countries can help us. It was created by Nicola Avery in the UK.

[Daniel Bassill]

The Waiting for Superman web site has a take action section that points to 26 different US cities and Canada. On each city page is a list of resources. Tutor/Mentor Connection is included in the Chicago page. 13 other cities include a mentor partner link. However, 12 cities don't have this. I wrote about this on my blog today. Take a look.