Please attempt only one of the 5 questions below. Your answer should be minimum 4 pages and maximum 6 pages.
Documentary Review:
Film Themes and Discussion Questions
EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN ALL COMMUNITIES
Q-1: In Waiting for "Superman", we travel with five families on their journey to enroll their children in public schools where students are challenged and supported in programs that prepare them for college. What is your vision of a great public school? What are the key characteristics of a great school?
Q-2: Who is responsible for creating and sustaining great public schools? What is your role - as a parent, teacher, student, administrator, community member, businessperson, city official or philanthropist? What needs to happen in your community to create more public ownership of your local public schools?
Q-3: In the film we see several examples of schools characterized by a culture of low expectations and low achievement. Are there schools in your community that fit this description? What do you believe are the root causes of these chronically low-performing schools? What is being done to improve them? What should be done?
Q-4: Research shows that what happens outside of school - such as neighborhood violence or inadequate health care or housing - has a significant impact on classroom learning and student achievement. In your experience, what is the relationship between neighborhood quality of life and student achievement?
Q-5: Public charter schools were first envisioned as laboratories of innovation, where new ideas and strategies could be tested and best practices then implemented more broadly in traditional public schools. Although some information sharing has occurred, it is not a widespread practice, due in part to the isolation and at times distrust that exists between charter schools and school districts.
How can public charter and non-charter schools learn from each other so that successful programs, practices and strategies are shared and broadly implemented? What can you do to support information sharing and collaboration between public charter and non-charter schools in your school district?