#6 The "New Old School"- AIM High...Brute force?

Punishment for chewing gum, Saturday school for missing regular days, students must complete all homework and classwork given by teacher, no cell phones... are these descriptors of an old school from the 50's? Or is this a new school of the 21st century? In California, it's what I would call the "New Old School." Where is this school you might ask? It's in Oakland, CA, one of the toughest school districts in the nation. Sure, it's not East L.A., but it's not a walk in the park either.

The name of the school is AIM High, American Indian Model. The setting is a school in the heart of Oakland, CA. The demographics, 95% Free and Reduced Lunch, 99% minorities, and 85% speak English as a second language. The story includes schools preparing for elimination. Instead of being bulldozed, AIM improved their API scores from 436 to 967 in eight years. It's a story that should be destined for Hollywood. Will it? Blackboard Jungle, Freedom Writers, and Lean On Me are all great movies. Will Crazy Like a Fox- One Principal's Triumph in the Inner City by Dr. Chavis and Carey Blakely make it to a theatre near you?

What's so "crazy" about students, parents, teachers, and administration actually holding each other accountable for progress? If you've just stepped out the the time machine and you're in the 50's, nothing. If you're in an environment rich in gangs, or affirmative action, everything. I haven't gotten an opportunity to read the book, but after viewing this school's website, I've found that their common sense, mission, and model are all positive developments and the direct reason for such dramatic success and the salvation of their school for future generations.

My school district, the new school, has 30% Free and Reduced Lunch, 61% white, and 12% students who speak English as a second language. Our API score dropped below 800 this past year and we're considering program improvement within the next two years if we cannot increase our district scores 25%, which is nearly impossible according to our latest administration. What do you suppose our last four administrations in the past ten years have in common? Homework policies, discipline issues, and educational focus are all elements they have had in common- namely, less and less homework, fewer and fewer detentions, lenient referrals and discipline, and elimination of the importance of music, art, P.E., social studies, and science.

At the AIM schools, the new old school, students have consequences for poor choices. They may have detention, Saturday School, embarrassment, cleaning, etc. I know, the "embarrassment" probably caught your eye the most. Why? Because it works, or because it works? Will they do it again? I would guess not. If a 6th grade student acts up, he is sent to a 7th or 8th grade classroom and told to sit on the floor. They also are given a minimum of 2 hours of homework a night. The teachers must include 90 minutes of both math and language arts homework. Part of their "Ten Commandments" includes "...'affirmative action' for minorities is the most blatant form of racism in the United States... be aware that affirmative action and diversity specialists have made a professional career based on people's color and sex. These individuals are committed to human inequality to ensure they are employed." They also include all subject matter and excel in P.E.

Why do you think more schools aren't being successful like AIM schools? I submit, it is as simple as the difference between the "New Old School" and the new age idealists and doctrines of today's educational system and politics. In what district would you rather work? Your current district, AIM, or another model district? Can America's schools follow The American Indian Model of Education, or are we slated to be overrun and taken over?

I would love to be a part of such a great program, no matter how controversial it may be. Who is the source of controversy anyway? Is it Dr. Chavis and his AIM schools, or the crazy people who don't agree with their reason for success?