One Point

A year ago my student “Felicia” failed by one point the New York State Regents’ exam in Americam history. In New York, “passing the Regents” is the route to high school graduation, college, and a good job. Missing by one point might as well be a hundred.

Felicia’s now forgotten most of what she learned in last year’s history class. As she re-takes the exam, she’s further behind than she was a year ago. Her high school gave no refresher course or support—except for me, a volunteer from the church next door. School administrators know that she is at risk (that's why they connected us) but lacked the resources to help her. I had a great high school American history teacher and still avidly read history. But interpreting cartoons and eighteenth century newspaper articles to produce 500 words about the Stamp Act? Ugh. We were both lost.

I tutor at the high school because of Trinity Wall Street’s mission commitment to “raise a generation of leaders.” In 2007, Trinity and the Diocese of New York launched an initiative called All Our Children to connect Episcopal congregations with their local public schools. New York’s suffragan bishop Cathy Roskam and Trinity’s vestry member Joyce Mondesire led the way. The initiative supports parish-school connections and also community organizing for wider changes in school funding and policy. Felicia’s school needs both better funding and more community volunteers. Trinity’s offering funding, space, and technical assistance to our New York partners.

We’re also directly involved with schools in Lower Manhattan. Through partnerships nurtured by my colleague Anita Chan, we troop over to the the local high school once a week during our lunch hour. Like all parishes involved in All Our Children, we're committed to give 40 hours a year back to public schools.

This week in Anaheim, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church considers how we together might address domestic poverty. It's impossible to reduce poverty in a lasting way without improving our public schools.

It’s also impossible to follow our Baptismal Covenant's call to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every person if we don’t include our children.

I hope that the gathered Bishops and Deputies will stand with our children to support increased partnerships with public schools. This blog will track General Convention activities around public schools and also tell the stories of how the Church is already committed to strengthening schools.

Felicia failed by one point. She came closer than many others. Will we commit to help millions like her? We'll see.

--Matthew Heyd

Trinity Wall Street

 

 

Welcome

Starting July 8, 2009, the All Our Children blog will cover the progress of the All Our Children resolution at General Convention.  Check back often for updates!