Town, gown together
THE TOWN-GOWN divide between Boston's elite universities and its struggling public schools narrowed considerably this week with the announcement of a $10 million commitment by five colleges to improve public education. The days when universities could fulfill their obligations by conducting a sponsored research project or tossing a few scholarships in Boston's direction are officially over.
The agreement is the result of several recent meetings between Mayor Thomas Menino and the presidents of Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, Tufts, and Northeastern. The initiative matches the strengths of the universities with the needs of students in 10 yet-to-be announced struggling schools. Special attention will be given to closing the achievement gap between white and minority students and reducing the drop-out rate -- two problems that plague Boston despite a decade-long commitment to education reform.
The most promising aspect of the partnership is the emphasis on student health. Menino wants to mine the nursing, social work, engineering, and medicine departments of major universities as a means to strengthen public education. Schools of education are already providing curriculum expertise and professional development opportunities for teachers. But there is only so much a strong teacher or a well-developed curriculum can do for students who arrive at school confused, frightened, malnourished, or in poor health. The new agreement encourages a more active role for universities, including dental care, mental health screenings, and other medical service for students and, in some cases, their families.
The potential for academic research will be significant under the new partnership. But research should take a back seat to the needs of the school district. Success should be measured in terms of student improvement, not by counting citations in education journals.
Momentum suddenly favors Boston's schools. The city's 10th graders posted big gains this week on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System examination. Earlier this month, the Boston Public Schools won the prestigious Broad Prize for improvements in urban education. And Manuel Rivera, one of the nation's most sought-after school superintendents, has signed on to lead Boston's schools after he completes the academic year in Rochester, N.Y. The town-gown partnership raises the school system's potential even higher.
One of the more dismal sights on the urban landscape is the poor public school standing in the shadow of great universities. The Menino administration and the city's colleges are taking the right steps to alter that image.
