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VIDEO
Listen to the Children
Discussion Guide
Introduction
Listen to the Children was produced by Dr. Joan Scheuer for the Educational
Priorities Panel, a coalition of 24 mainstream civic and parent organizations
in New York City. The video details the variety of challenges facing students
in schools across New York State, including rural, urban and suburban
districts, and how funding affects the classroom. In order to be consistent
and make valid comparisons, conditions were filmed in 8th grade classrooms.
We chose to focus on this grade because it is a critical time when science
and technology become increasingly important as students are preparing
for the rigors of high school and future careers. In this video you’ll
see and hear first-hand experiences of teachers coping with inadequate
resources and students struggling to learn under substandard conditions
as well as others with the tools to succeed. Listen to the Children
also presents the views of education leaders on the current school
funding system.
Credits
| Executive
Producer |
Joan Scheuer |
| Supervising Producer |
Libby Handros |
| Producer |
Amy Shatsky-Gambrill |
| Editor |
Shelly Dunning |
| Camera & Sound |
Debra Granick & Michael McDonough |
Discussion Questions
| 1. |
What is your reaction to this video?
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| 2. |
Were you surprised by anything you saw
in this video?
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| 3. |
Is the lack of adequate resources confined
to schools in large cities only?
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| 4. |
Should all children in New York State have
access to a quality education?
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| 5. |
Some people say that "money doesn’t
matter," that raising standards to a higher level alone is sufficient
to bring about school improvement. What would you say to such people
after seeing this video?
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| 6. |
How does the quality of its schools affect
a community? |
Addressing the Problem
Many schools in New York State lack sufficient resources to provide students
with the "sound basic education" guaranteed under the New York
State constitution.
| 1. |
Do you think the state should provide additional
funding to schools that lack the resources to provide a sound basic
education to all their students? |
| 2. |
Where do you think the additional funding
should come from? |
| 3. |
Would you be willing to pay higher taxes
to ensure that all students receive a sound basic education? |
What You Can Do
| 1. |
Contact your own State Senator and Assemblymember
via phone, fax or letter asking them to change the education funding
system to benefit all students in the state. (CLICK
HERE to find out who represents YOU!)
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| 2. |
Host a meeting on school funding reform
for your organization, school, PTA or other group.
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| 3. |
Request that your organization formally
adopt a position on school funding reform.
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| 4. |
Have your organization schedule meetings
with your State Senator and Assemblymember to talk about school funding
reform.
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Additional Resources
New York: The State of Learning, A Report to the
Governor and the Legislature on the Educational Status of the State’s
Schools (2 volumes, also known as the Chapter 655 report) is available
for $12.50 from Publications Sales Desk, New York State Education Department,
Room 309 EB, Albany, NY 12234, (518) 474-8073.
Options
in School Finance Reform in New York State (pdf),
available on EPP's web site (home page).
School Finance Reform - A Discussion Paper (October
1995): a plain language description of the school finance system and discussion
of the equity issue, is available from the Office of the State Comptroller,
Public Information Office, Governor Smith State Office Building, Albany,
NY 12236 or through the Comptroller’s web site http://www.osc.state.ny.us
An Agenda for Equitable and Cost-Effective School Finance
Reform (October 1996) presents State Comptroller Carl McCall’s
recommendations for reforming New York State’s school finance system.
It is available from the Office of the State Comptroller, Public Information
Office, Governor Smith State Office Building, Albany, NY 12236 or through
the Comptroller’s web site http://www.osc.state.ny.us
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