A number of us on the TVOParents team are picking favourite stories from 2011 and it’s hard because, of course, I love everything we do. But I am recommending "Community Schools: Reducing the Risks of Poverty" because it touches on so many issues that affect a child’s education – geography, socio-economics, proper support systems. In March, our host Cheryl Jackson and producer Albert Wisco spent a day at the Dr. J. Edgar Davey elementary school in Hamilton, speaking to educators, parents, students, and community representatives. The school is in the Beasley area, a low-income, highly diverse community which has been hard hit by job losses in the manufacturing industry. Research shows that poverty puts students at risk. Add the fact that many of the students at J. Edgar Davey are newcomers – over 60 percent are learning English as a second language – and the risk increases. So what can schools do? Well, the folks at J. Edgar Davey decided to shake things up. Their goal was to transform the school into a community hub – an inviting and hospitable place that both students and parents could utilize, and take pride in. They renovated. They added child and family services, recreational programs, and a breakfast program all under one roof. It took ten years to raise the funds and get the work done. But it has meant a lot to the community. Maria Gentles, a parent on the panel, actually teared up when she spoke of the dedication of Principal Leah Schwenger, and the difference the school has made to her child and the community. Things aren’t perfect. It’s not clear if there are tangible academic benefits yet. Families still live in poverty. But fewer families are leaving the community, and fewer kids are skipping school. That is something. You can’t teach kids who aren’t there. The folks at J. Edgar Davey have shown us that even the toughest situations can improve with commitment and a willingness to change. That’s a useful and hopeful message for us all.
