Just finished watching an assigned documentary, Love Them First. https://www.lovethemfirst.com/watch/
This is a documentary about the school principal, Mauri Friestleben, of Lucy Craft Laney Community School, a Minneapolis public elementary school, leading a team of passionate teachers put forth their love, care, the effort trying to get Lucy Laney off the list of failing school.
Is this a failing school?
The teachers love and care about the students.
The children and their families love the school and the teachers.
But, the school is on the failing school list because they are failing the tests.
The children were being taught to work with others socially.
The children were taught to be good citizens.
The children had to deal with so many problems that many adults do not have the resilience to deal with.
Watching the children, the way they talk, the way they think, they were so matured.
They could not have come from a failing school!
The teachers were in constant communication with the students’ families.
You see so much joy, so much energy, kindness, and love in this school.
Teachers worked hard, took teaching personally.
The teachers instituted positive energy and hopeful life perspective into the students
The teachers taught for the outcome, to see the moment the children’s faces light up.
The teachers are there because they love the children, love what they are doing.
Lucy Laney is a safe place, the home for the children.
The parents love the school. The community loves the school.
All said the school is the best of the community.
Why is this school a failing school?
— Mai-Wah Cheung