shared by Tracy Power.
Schools play various roles in a community that affect both adults and children. They provide education and often times a proper environment where underage individuals can learn, develop, and socialize. Schools provide underage
individuals with the opportunity to work towards a worthwhile future in which they can have well-paying jobs that they enjoy. As well as education, most schools provide kids with food and medical care. According to Tracy Power, the resources coordinator at Roberts Academy, Roberts Academy gives kids two to three meals a day and medical care. On top of medical care for students, Roberts Academy offers people in the surrounding area cheap, affordable medical
assistance. With most adults working every day to support their families, some schools provide relief to parents. While their kids are at school, parents do not need to worry about their safety and what they are doing. Parent's are confident that their children are developing into adults who are educated and prepared for the world. Throughout the week schools also offers members of the surrounding community with children attending school a friendly place to meet
and spend time.
My class's trip to Roberts Academy this past week was very informative and worthwhile. Upon our arrival we were met by a kind woman named Tracy Power. She gave us a tour of the new building, which had been renovated about seven years ago. She explained that the new building is a result of a federal mandate which stated that made many Cincinnati schools be rebuilt or renovated because Cincinnati had some of the worst public schools in the nation. A group of individuals interested in public school system created a group to improve schools and make them into community learning centers. One of the main points Tracy brought up about Roberts Academy is that it is a community learning system which focuses on the Paideia method of teaching. The Paideia method centers around focusing on the child as a whole and teaching each child to be a lifelong learner. This is done through small classes in which students can learn from and teach each other. To encourage Paideia and teach students that learning does not stop when school ends, Roberts Academy offers summer classes. According to Gladwell, the issue with students who are behind at the beginning
of each school year is "how much it has to do with what happens during summer vacation" (Gladwell, 2008, 257). By offering summer programs, Roberts Academy prevents kids from causing trouble as well as eliminates the achievement gap. On top of this, Roberts Academy is a magnet school, making it accessible to any local children who have the necessary transportation to make it to and from school. Just like Marita's school in our reading, Robert's academy "takes kids like her and who are stuck in poverty and give them a chance to get out" (Gladwell, 2008, 267). They do the community a service by giving less fortunate students a chance to get back on their feet and make something of their lives. On top of this, Tracy explains how the Roberts Academy has various partners throughout Cincinnati, including universities like UC and Miami, which give it the support it needs to thrive. Every week Findlay Market comes to Robert's
Academy and offers fresh produce at a reasonable price in order provide families in the area with fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables. In return, Findlay Market receives customers and profits. Overall, I enjoyed my trip to Roberts Academy, and the school's beauty and programs have changed my view of public schools on the West Side of Cincinnati.
Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The story of success. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.