Free documentary viewing presented to inspire conversation about education
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 28, 2016 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools and the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce are hosting a free movie night next week, with hopes it will spark discussion about ways to improve education and schools.
The special May 4 event, to be held at the Paramount Theatre, is an opportunity for the public to view a highly acclaimed documentary on education and curriculum reform in the 21st century.
For a year, filmmaker Greg Whiteley and his crew documented the experiences of two freshman classes at a school in San Diego, California.
High Tech High offers an innovative approach to teaching, giving teachers more freedom in the classroom, separate from such state-mandated requirements like standardized testing.
The film, "Most Likely to Succeed," opens with Whiteley watching his young daughter struggle to pay attention during a parent-teacher conference about her diminished performance in school.
Instead of taking a harsh tone with the child, it struck a chord, prompting him to ask questions about where education is today.
The film explores a brief history of education and focuses on alternative ways of schooling, like the model at High Tech High.
The 86-minute movie will be followed by a panel discussion about the importance of such innovative and forward-thinking education methods in today's world, officials said.
"After watching this movie, audience members will be unable to think about 'school' in the same way again," said Tamara Ishee, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with WCPS. "Since first opening 16 years ago, High Tech High has evolved into a network of schools.
"As audience members will see in the movie, teachers and administrators are enabling students to be successful academically through project-based learning, technology rich instruction, personalized learning and transformative curriculum and instruction designs."
The film will be shown at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4.
It is an event the schools superintendent, Dr. Michael Dunsmore, hopes could be a catalyst for serious discussion about the need for transformation in Wayne County Public Schools.
"While we are not looking at building a High Tech High in Wayne County, it is vital that we are open to new approaches for how education can be delivered in order to better prepare students for success in life and in the 21st century workplace," he said.
Chamber leaders echo the sentiment, suggesting that in order to attract and retain businesses and industries to the community, innovative schools are needed that will successfully prepare students academically and for jobs.
"Businesses have evolved over the years to best take advantage of ever-changing technology and resources," said Kate Daniels, president of the Wayne County Chamber. "In contrast, school systems across the country have not evolved at the same rate.
"This upcoming event is an opportunity for us, as a community, to consider and discuss how our local education system can better meet the needs of tomorrow's work force."