TOMMIE SAYLOR: It takes a village, and that village is our public schools

“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

By Tommie Saylor

Kennedy High School Principal

If you have any doubt about the success of today’s public high schools, try joining us at graduation and your doubts will quickly evaporate.

The media, our very own politicians and critical naysayers only want to focus on the bottom 30 percent of students and graduates. They say, “See, our schools are failing.”

But what they don’t know, is that those bottom 30 percent have made it to graduation after overcoming obstacles that would drive those so-called “do-gooders” into a catatonic state.

Those bottom 30 percent overcame poverty (the arch-nemesis to the field of education), abuse, learning disabilities, mental disorders, neglect and homelessness. Those bottom 30 percent are the true heroes of the night.

Though they may not receive scholarships, academic rewards and recognition, they are the ones who fought the biggest battles and bear the deepest scars as they clawed their way to graduation.

So, as they quietly cross the stage unadorned by clanging medals, sashes and honor cords, they should be the most revered for making the longest journey with the least amount of resources.

Though the naïve media and politicians want to argue about the bottom 30 percent with the words “I told you so” upon their lips, I would like to point out the top 30 percent.

I would like to take the time to highlight the achievements and honors earned by our top students. I would like to point out the 17 graduates that earned over a 4.0 GPA. Or the couple of dozen or so students who will be entering college as a junior or sophomore because they earned many college credits while still in high school. Or the multitude of students who earned technical certifications and are now prepared to enter the skilled trades work force.

Let’s talk about the over $1 million our graduates have been awarded in college scholarships, the student that has been accepted directly into medical school or the student who has been recognized as one of the top instrumentalist in the state and is now going to college to earn a degree in music.

Or the dozen or so students who have decided to serve their country by joining the military and the students who earned the right to compete in the World Robotics Competition and are now heading off to college to earn a degree in engineering/robotics.

If our detractors wish to discuss the fate and effectiveness of our underfunded, understaffed and publicly undermined education system, then I offer the above as proof of our effectiveness.

Check and mate!

It has been said, that it takes a village to raise a child. In today’s modern age, that village is the public school system.

What starts here, changes the world. Making Kennedy the school of choice. Excellence by design.