Newark

What the Heck is Going on in Newark?

February 20, 2015

Laura Waters

I’m trying to figure it out too. We know that eight students, members of the Newark Students Union, have been camped out at Newark Public Schools’ central office at 2 Cedar St. since 8:30 Tuesday night. This “occupation” is supported by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The students are demanding Superintendent Cami Anderson’s resignation, a rollback of One Newark, a long-term district improvement plan that includes universal enrollment to the city’s traditional and charter schools, and a return to local control.

Civil disobedience is a proud American tradition and the students’ enthusiasm and commitment is terrific. But there are a few troubling elements to this “occupation:”

1) At least one of the eight students, Thais Marques, is not a high school student but a Rutgers college student.

2) At least three of the remaining seven (names derived from twitter feeds and media, but they’re kids: I don’t want to name them) are students at Newark Science Park High School. Science Park is one of N.J.’s most selective magnet high school with highly-coveted slots. These students were able to enroll in one of the best schools in the state through a public school choice program that operates a lot like One Newark, at least if you disregard the admissions requirements that students demonstrate “interest in science and have an overall excellent academic record, particularly in the areas of science, mathematics and computer literacy.”’

One of the students/adults’ contentions is that One Newark “promotes segregation.” But the high school students attend one of the most segregated schools in the city.

Science Park offers 15 A.P. courses and 6 I.B. courses. Everyone graduates and everyone goes to four-year colleges.

For comparison’s sake, Barringer High School, a non-magnet open admissions Newark high school, offers no A.P. or I.B. courses. According to the D.O.E., it “significantly lags” in achievement. 52% of students graduate and 25% enroll in four-year colleges.

3) The student’s organizer is Roberto Cabanas. He not only facilitates activities at Newark Students Union but also is “lead organizer” at New Jersey Communities United. (Thais Marques is employed at NJCU also.) NJCU works for all sorts of good causes (paid sick leave, police reform, etc.). It also works with Newark Teachers Union, Working Families Alliance, and NJEA to stop education reform initiatives. (Yesterday at a live-streamed press conference one of the students yelled out something like, “we want to get rid of Cami Anderson and stop PARCC!)

These kids are great and smart and articulate;their motives are pure. I’m just not that sure about the adults.

Laura Waters

3 Comments

B. Barrett, February 20, 2015 @ 11:19 pm Reply

I know Roberto Cabanas fairly well. We were fellows in Leadership Newark together (Class of 2010) and he's well-intentioned and motivated to help youth in the city. He was also the student body president at Rutgers-Newark. He has a history of engagement in education and youth development in the city (just check out his profile on LinkedIn).

As for the rest involved, I don't know them, but as residents and students in Newark, they have every right to protest what is going on if they feel like their community isn't being heard. Period.

The premise of this piece as I read it was to try and discredit them since they may not be experiencing directly the pitfalls of some of the recent reforms. That, on its face, is ridiculous. Furthermore, to argue for a moment that this effort is more politically motivated than *dozens* of other power moves involving education in Newark is downright laughable if it wasn't so positively nauseating.

Its similar to saying that because many ed reformers in Newark aren't from Newark, don't live in Newark, and their kids don't attend Newark schools that they shouldn't be involved in education city or telling Newarkers what they need. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't agree with that, and no rational adult would either.

Your question: “What the Heck is Going on in Newark?” is, however, spot on. You just followed it up with the wrong context and reporting. What should've followed is how in the heck does a state that has controlled the local schools for so long with such a horrible track record justify maintaining control? If we're really about empowering parents and families, then give them back control of their schools. Be partners in making them better, but don't ignore them and don't further marginalize them.
Holly Kaplansky, February 21, 2015 @ 1:04 am Reply

Whoever wrote this obviously doesn't know anything about Roberto Cabanas. Roberto is actually an amazing mentor to these kids – teaching them to speak up for what they believe in by protesting in an organized, peaceful way. He is an exceptional role model, not only leading them to speak out for their rights, but also dedicating his time with local youth encouraging them and working with them in the performance arts. If only there were more “adults” like him in Newark!
NJ Left Behind, February 22, 2015 @ 3:25 pm Reply

Hi, Barrett and Holly. I'm sure Roberto Cabanas if a great and ethical leader and the kids are lucky to have him as a role model. I was merely responding to the perception that the high school students in the NPS offices were self-directed.