Scrapbook

January 29, 2009
Kankana Mukhopadhyay

I, on behalf of our Get Real! Science research group, presented to the Rochester Board of Education, the work of East-Freedom Connection project. I accompanied the main presenter, Mr. George Moses, and his other team members. Through my role in this event as data analyst, I had the privilege of witnessing the power of youth voices and parents’ support throughout the meeting. The structure of the presentation included input from the parents, and the stories they narrated were phenomenal. They supported the project enthusiastically because its many components demonstrate care for their children as they strive to improve students’ academic and social lives. Some of the powerful statements made by the parents were:

“I support Freedom school because my son spends more time reading than hanging around in the streets.”
“Freedom school staff are great because they are like the father figure that my son never had.”

This presentation focused on 31 students, including former 6th graders and former 7th graders, who participated in the whole day program of Freedom School. This was the first time Freedom school executed a whole day, school program. The data showed significant improvements in the students’ GPAs, suspension records and absenteeism. For example, for the former 7th graders, their GPA increased from 0.24 to 2.40, suspension rates decreased from 90% to 10% and average absenteeism came down from 107 days to 10 days. Further, parental involvement and participation in social actions also showed noteworthy improvement. Last summer, we got to know these students as campers in the Get Real! Science Environmental Action Camp!

Our Get Real! Science! research group is in the process of collaborating with George and his team to conceptualize a research agenda to better understand the profound impact such a caring community combined with committed and research-based teaching can have on students who have traditionally had a really rough time in school.