It’s hard work and requires us to love our neighbor.

I like kids. I believe that God intends for us to care for and nurture them, to support and educate them, to help them become independent, fulfilled and caring adults. I believe that “love thy neighbor” means loving both our children and the children who are not of our birth, and working to provide all that the bounty of this earth and the resources of our intellect can offer.

There’s a new movie that has just been released, a documentary called, Waiting for Superman. No, it’s not about the comic book superhero; it’s about how our “school system” has failed. While I’ve not seen the movie, I have heard the filmmaker interviewed and have read reviews and blogs about the content – all of which have led me to dig deeper into my beliefs about what children deserve and how schools could serve them more fully. Hopefully, this will stimulate some of our thinking together.

Talk about a “school system” failure in the U.S., I think, underscores the public ignorance of public schooling. We don’t have a school system; what we really have are thousands of school systems, entrusted to the local community – whether it is a town, township, county or other political subdivision. Some of those systems are thriving and helping kids to blossom, learn and grow – others are failing miserably. Let’s think about the reasons. Right now in most states in the U. S., the caliber of a school is based on the socio-economic conditions of the community in which it is located. In a country that prides itself on opportunity for all – many children have the opportunity that is remains only after those who attend private schools, charter schools and home-schools have left for presumably greener pastures.

We all want the best for our own children; however, if we consider what is best for everybody’s children, it might just lead to excellent public schools. When the “cream of the crop” stay in public schools, parents have real power to advocate. What once might have been a “pain-in-the-neck” parent, advocating for something special, the group now has the opportunity to lead and demand (in only the best way) excellence for all.

I believe there is no superman for schools. Just like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, we already have it in our power to make decisions that can lead to excellence for all. It’s hard work and requires us to love our neighbor. By: Diane Bechtold