Graduate for Jolley
June 5, 2016 7:05 AM Subscribe
Last fall, Baltimore's Renaissance Academy High School was put on the school district's closure list for poor student performance, though the decision was later reversed. In November, 17 year old senior Ananias Jolley was stabbed in the middle of science class, and died a few days before Christmas. By the end of February, two more students from the school were killed. 65 students graduated this past Friday from Renaissance; among them Ananias' brother, 20-year-old Santonio Jolley, a dropout who enrolled in Renaissance five days after his brother died. This is Renaissance.
It shouldn't have to be this hard.
posted by BlueHorse at 8:26 AM on June 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by BlueHorse at 8:26 AM on June 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
A purely personal anecdote: when I was in high school, my family basically fell apart. I became scattershot, apathetic; I could not concentrate. I would turn in English tests with totally blank essay sections. I stopped turning in my lab reports. I would sleep through the first few periods of the day in a quiet part of the school. I am still vaguely surprised that I actually graduated.
So when Khalil Bridges says, "There were too many things going on to concentrate in school," I can relate in some small way. To take the stability out of a child's life is to drastically reduce their chances of completing an education.
In the long view, my case was mild; I can only imagine the disruptive effects of growing up amid chronic violence and poverty. And if the stressors spill over into the school environment itself? If my high school had been home to stabbings instead of drowsy old priests who taught Ancient Greek? Holy shit, my chances would have been nil.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 9:13 AM on June 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
So when Khalil Bridges says, "There were too many things going on to concentrate in school," I can relate in some small way. To take the stability out of a child's life is to drastically reduce their chances of completing an education.
In the long view, my case was mild; I can only imagine the disruptive effects of growing up amid chronic violence and poverty. And if the stressors spill over into the school environment itself? If my high school had been home to stabbings instead of drowsy old priests who taught Ancient Greek? Holy shit, my chances would have been nil.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 9:13 AM on June 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
There's just so, so many things to get mad at here, so let's start at the beginning:
WHO WAS THE BRAIN-DEAD MONKEY IN A SUIT THAT DECIDED THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION FOR LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS WAS TO DENY THOSE STUDENTS ACCESS TO EDUCATION???
posted by FirstMateKate at 11:27 AM on June 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
WHO WAS THE BRAIN-DEAD MONKEY IN A SUIT THAT DECIDED THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION FOR LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS WAS TO DENY THOSE STUDENTS ACCESS TO EDUCATION???
posted by FirstMateKate at 11:27 AM on June 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
FirstMateKate: Can you imagine the the response to a suggestion that high-performing schools be shut because those kids can afford private tutors?
posted by rhizome at 12:27 PM on June 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:27 PM on June 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by pjsky at 8:17 AM on June 5, 2016 [12 favorites]