School promises a new approach

By Kate McNeil

When the Bronx New School, PS 51, first opened its doors in September 1988, it was immediately called "progressive."

Started by a group of parent leaders who wanted an alternative to public schools they viewed as stodgy, PS 51 promised a unique classroom setting where students learned at their own pace, alongside classmates of different ages and multicultural backgrounds. Teachers and principals were known as "Beverly" or "Esther," and rooms were colorful and cluttered with art projects.

In recent years, as the city tightened its clamp on the Department of Education and standardized test scores became the measure of success, PS 51 lost its identity, parents complained.

Improving scores

Over parents' objections, in 2004 the school abandoned its long-standing policy of bringing students of various ages together in one class. A more traditional organization, principal Paul Smith said, would improve failing test scores by allowing teachers to focus on one grade level at a time.

At the time, parents pointed out, the shift proved that even the once-autonomous progressive school would not be able to escape the increasing demands of the testhungry city.

But hope may be on the horizon for parents who seek a more progressive approach.

Four former PS 51 teachers have blazed their own trail and won a license to begin a new charter school this fall.

Set to open in September at a location still to be determined, Bronx Community Charter School will preserve some tenets of PS 51 and offer what the teachers call a hands-on, holistic education with minimal standardized testing.

Starting small

The Board of Regents approved the group's five-year charter on Jan. 15. Plans call for the school to start with 100 kindergarten and first-grade students, and eventually expand to the eighth grade.

Leading the founders is Sascha Wilson, a PS 51 teacher for nine years, who said the Bronx New School, "where families and kids have had a large voice" shaped him as a teacher. Mr. Wilson's codirector will be Martha Andrews, and joining them will be Kendra Sibley and Ilia Edwards.

"Our hope is that our school will build upon the wonderful things at PS 51 and improve upon them as well," Mr. Wilson said.

The school will be the first elementary charter school in Community School District 10 and will give preference to students in the district. The location is up in the air, Mr. Wilson said, but should be decided by next week.

The 25-student classes will benefit from full-time math and re specialists and a specialist in special education. Part-time visual and performing arts teachers will provide arts instruction five days a week.

Mr. Wilson believes "a small, K-though-eight school where families and kids will be well known and welcome," will appeal to families in the Riverdale-Kingsbridge area.

"Even though families have good options, it's hard to find a small school that's committed to active learning, hands-on education and community service," he said.

A broader view

A union chapter leader for seven years, Mr. Wilson is critical of the Department of Ed, saying some of its initiatives counteract an ideal school envionment.

For instance, Mr. Wilson and his colleagues felt that standardized testing had gotten out of hand.

"While we believe standardized tests are a measure, we also believe so many other ways to think about kids," he said. "The DOE is narrowing the way kids are looked at to quantifiable numbers. We have a much broader view of what makes children successful."

Although charter schools receive public funding, they do not report to city agencies. Mr. Wilson said he hopes to "quantify" the charter's success by different measures - attendance, parent satisfaction and participation in community service.

"This school will really honor the years I spent" at the Bronx New School, he said. "It feels like an appropriate extension of that experience."

This is part of the February 28, 2008 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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