Really. When the harsh public spotlight was not her, Barnes (and her APs) refused to provide support for teachers, particularly in terms of physical security. There were no deans, meaning that accountability for behavior both in and outside of the classroom– often behavior that would have been considered misdemeanors outside of a school’s walls– fell to the already overtaxed guidance staff. Barnes didn’t want to hear or even acknowledge bad news, because bad news means bad hype, and bad hype means accountability. Then again, based on recent events– the investigation into grade fixing– it looks like her spin machine caught up with her. Her heart was technically in the right place– putting a dent in the “schools-to-prison pipeline”, as she called it– but her approach was completely wrong.

The students run completely wild in this school, constantly cursing at teachers and making lewd comments. Their reading and math scores are extremely low and the attitude of the administration is that they come from this environment and we should except who we are working with. They say if you don’t like it here maybe you should look to another school for your career.

I totally agree with this decision to close the school. It is about time some of these people running these school be stopped instead of using the schools as their personal piggy banks.

“The Schools Chancellor and Mayor closed another failing school.”

Let’s stop blaming the neighborhood, the poverty, or the skin color of the students to excuse their limited progress while in attendance at this school. The school was in a perfect position as a longtime rock of the community to offer parents and caregivers more guidance through the daunting task of raising young people. Maybe by offering more parent workshops and home outreach. Many parents have told me that the school often isolated the community members, and sometimes imitated the negative qualities of the community instead of acting as a dependable role model.

I for one will certainly not be pleased if a charter school comes in and divides the neighborhood. Public schools should not become the least attractive choice for parents; but the leaders at the school for leadership had the opportunity to be the change that they wanted to see, and in my opinion they failed.

What exactly is going to change as a result of PS 27 closing? Many of the current teachers will be rehired in whatever new school will be created. Our principal will remain there as the middle school is phased out. I expect that most of the children will return, because they are not likely to be accepted in to the mostly-white and middle class schools of just-on-the-other-side-of-the-BQE. Perhaps a young and inexperienced principal will be chosen who knows nothing of our students and whom our students mistrust. Or perhaps someone who’s been around the block and can guarantee test results will increase by next year (my, won’t that be a fun place in which to work or go to school). Or better yet, our school will close only to be replaced by a charter school with brand new teachers who have no experience in urban settings.

The DoE erred terribly in not providing families with information on the transfer process at the time of the closure announcement. It must be the worst limbo for the 80 students. Going forward, the DoE should provide the 80 families with the most rigorous case management, and the best opportunities to attend high-quality schools. This means arranged visits to lots of schools throughout this year; meeting with each family at least two times (with aggressive outreach to families not responding); forcing high-performing schools to accept Agnes Humphrey students; and following-up with families in September to confirm regular school attendance and troubleshoot adjustment issues. Just imagine how great it would be if Agnes Humphrey transferred to Midwood High School, Murrow High School, Madison High School, Brooklyn School of Collaborative Studies, Fort Hamilton High School, John Dewey High School, etc.

The closure of Agnes Humphrey reminds me of a fantastic New Yorker article on the instability that befell students left in the lurch by the closure of a low-performing Denver high school. Many of the students profiled in the article got lost in the transition, eventually dropping out, and the Denver school officials explained the tragedy as the “collateral damage” of school improvement. With Denver’s Superintendent Michael Bennett being considered for the Education Secretary post, Elizabeth posted a link to the New Yorker article earlier on Friday.