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Deborah Kenny, author of book "Born to Rise" explains problems with the public school system
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Personal story segment tonight -- we discuss -- topic broadcast is a major problem in many American public schools not only are some of the kids not being taught the basics.
But this -- whole self esteem craziness going on.
In California high school valedictorian very Smart kid told the principal of the horse in the high school that he wants to give his speech in Spanish principal said.
Sure -- right -- had.
-- -- that Deborah Kenny you found at a charter school network here in New York City called the Harlem -- village academy's.
Chairman of the News Corp.
Rupert Murdoch is on the board.
And -- -- is also the author of a new book called born to rise which explains how to educate children so they will prosper.
Crystal do you believe -- -- group made that many public schools are in chaos and in his flat for a little less crazy absolutely.
The schools are in chaos.
And the reason is why.
The reason is that we need a revolution.
Nothing short of -- pollution and in how we teach our children and what we expect of our children we expect wait too little of them.
All right -- you say that the public school system.
Almost like a call -- at the top of the program easy.
The only Ceglia is he thinks finding and it is -- demanding that children before.
We don't need to tinker around with the edges we need an absolute transformation and the only way that's gonna happen.
Is if we elevate the teaching profession so we need to get rid of anything that would stand in that way which includes all of the union work rules.
That get in the way of teachers being treated like professionals right now teachers in our country in my view are treated like factory workers okay.
Ice -- generally you know I didn't -- -- All right so but I do know that subject it's very subjective on who's a good teacher who's -- -- teacher I mean and mean data is -- bad because he's tough and these days and he's that he's -- in Iowa and Iran and no -- -- -- -- you wrote this book.
For.
What is the one thing you gotta you gotta narrow down -- -- the one thing that is necessary to educate American children what.
Do you have to.
You have to have an incredibly passionate.
Dedicated Smart teacher in front of every single -- it sounds like a very simple -- pat answer but it's not because right now.
We have a system that allows.
For years and years to go on.
Where -- kid can be five years old that isn't taught to read seven years old isn't taught to read nine years old -- these teachers have to be.
Demonstrably.
Passionate and you and in confronted children if they're not doing the job the work you should do and then we have to allow the principles to hire and fire based on performing -- what's wrong about their -- before right -- performance in the case of a school means.
Not only that the children are learning at grade level for God's sake in Harlem we had 75%.
Of the kids in schools were -- -- But also that the kids learn responsibility and hard work and other -- now.
As a teacher former teacher I know that the parents.
Of the Smart kids would encourage them.
Those almost a 100% they with a -- to show up to the parent teacher meetings they were the ones that would make -- their homework we're done so out of their parents.
Lot of parents who are addicted we're not there screwed up don't have a book and in -- don't care what the kids don't care if it's got.
Yes so you overcome that can you what you're school can only -- -- parenting.
Absolutely and it's far as I'm concerned -- parent educator you're there because.
You're there to help the kids regardless of what their lights -- -- -- and much much harder to get a kid who is no academic background doesn't care not encouraged.
Isn't much party -- Texas so it's par there so you have to step up to the challenge if you're an educator you're there because you care about the kids that there are some -- can't get through to.
I disagree completely sunk -- I couldn't in they were so far gone.
Emotionally.
OK you know and I got them -- because you -- an individual teacher perhaps in a whole school that wasn't working as a team so what needs to happen is.
Every single teacher in the school needs to be on the same page same values were all this together we all believe in these children.
Now you can't have that when the principal has no authority to hire and fire imagine somebody who was running a football team.
And they had three people who they want to let go but they couldn't the whole team would fall apart schools are like -- -- to coordinate I agree but I do believe there are some kids are so screwed up.
That it it it takes just -- years of therapy to get through before they'll pay attention but anyway very provocative doctor we appreciate you come in and book is born -- rise and it's very actually thank you thank you --
