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Francis DellaVecchia on Education

[::] Mayor’s power is in influencing the perception.
- Developing a plan, instead of reacting piecemeal to problems after the fact
- Reaffirm the city’s commitment to public education
- Pressure state officials to increase per pupil spending, where California almost always ranks among the lowest in the nation.
- Insist that teachers are compensated and respected for performing one of the most important services to our city
- Encourage and initiate public discussions with the real experts on what works ­ the teachers, parents, staff, principals and students of Los Angeles
- Create sound neighborhoods that can better support healthy schools.

Though the mayor's office has little direct power over the administration of public education, it has great sway over public perception, and in leading a public call for change. The current approach to making the schools work in Los Angeles is piecemeal, at best. Our officials generally try something, anything, to make it look as if something is being done: Build a school, stop building a school, stop bilingual education, install metal detectors. These are usually knee jerk responses to pressing problems, but none begin to address the systemic inadequacies, and more importantly, the public perception of the intended goal. Recently, under threat of a state takeover, it seems that some systemic issues are finally being addressed. But we must do more.

Renew Our Faith In Public Education

First, we must reaffirm a commitment to public education. It is the backbone of a democracy. I am a product of the New Jersey public school system, which spends among the most per pupil of any state in the nation, and UCLA, part of the greatest public university in the world. California's per pupil spending on primary and secondary education in recent years has been near the bottom nationwide, and it shows. If we value education, we must pay for it. If we value teachers, we must compensate them competitively. We can start with simple respect. Change the adage to, "Those who can do, must teach." We must treat education like our children's lives depend on it.

Mini Districts and Charter Schools

The city's charter schools seem to be making great strides. There is also opposition that sees them as detracting from the rest of the system. I want to hear personal experience from all sides. Recent calls to trim centralized administrative staff in order to put more teachers and money into the individual schools are welcome steps in the right direction. What are the potential consequences of mini districts? I'm told that the recent policy prohibiting social promotion has already been amended, as there would be no way to handle the large numbers of students who would be held back. Again, an edict was issued for public consumption, but seemed to have little basis in reality. I want to see and hear divergent viewpoints, starting with the people who see the effects of school policy every day; teachers, students, parents, staff, principals and onsite administrators.

We must encourage all concerned parties, who have in cases become adversarial, to work to build a new consensus, one that recognizes the welfare of the children as the top priority of all factions. Citizen panels on education will focus on solutions. They will continue throughout the campaign, as we seek the input of interested parties citywide.