\Bishop Dr. Raymond Rivera discussed his background in East Harlem and the founding of the Latino Pastoral Action Center (ELPAC) 33 years ago to holistically empower Latino communities. He highlighted the success of the Family Life Academy Charter Schools (FLACS), which started with one school and expanded to multiple high-performing schools. Rivera emphasized the importance of community-grown, community-led charter schools, advocating for diversity in leadership and a strong character curriculum. He criticized the educational system’s lack of accountability and centralization, calling for broader reforms. Rivera also stressed the need for charter schools to be contextual and community-connected, not just community-grown.
Transcript
Outline
Early Life and Background
- Bishop Dr. Raymond Rivera introduces himself, mentioning his birth in East Harlem, New York City, a place with a significant immigrant community, particularly the Puerto Rican community.
- He reflects on the tension between the Italian and Puerto Rican communities, referencing the story of West Side Story and noting the possibility of transcending social conditioning.
- Rivera emphasizes his commitment to serving all communities, especially the Puerto Rican and Latino communities, aligning with the principles of the Latino Pastoral Action Center (ELPAC).
- He founded ELPAC 33 years ago to educate, equip, and empower Latino churches and organizations holistically, addressing the whole person, including spiritual, political, social, and psychological dimensions.
Challenges in School District 9
- Rivera discusses the dire situation in School District 9, where children were performing poorly academically and often dropping out, leading to involvement in the underground economy.
- He questions whether schools with visionary leadership and competent teachers could help children learn at the same level as their white counterparts in affluent communities.
- The vision for the Family Life Academy was born out of this challenge, aiming to provide children with the same educational opportunities as other children.
- Rivera recalls his involvement in the Ocean Hill Brownsville battles of the late 60s, where community control of schools was established, allowing Puerto Ricans and African Americans to hire their own teachers and principals.
Community Control and Charter Schools
- Rivera explains the significance of community control in education, drawing parallels between the Ocean Hill Brownsville experiment and the charter school movement.
- He supports charter schools that are community-grown and community-led, emphasizing their accountability to the community and their ability to hire their own teachers and principals.
- The Family Life Academy Charter Schools (FLACS) is described as a community-based organization that grew organically from ELPAC, reflecting the community it serves.
- Rivera advocates for charter schools that are organic and come from community-based organizations, rather than being external to the community.
Educational Philosophy and Vision
- Rivera outlines the FLACS model, which focuses on English language learners and the importance of visionary leadership and competent teachers.
- He criticizes the educational establishment for blaming the home and lack of parental involvement for poor performance, arguing that schools have a responsibility to educate all children regardless of their background.
- FLACS schools are described as catalysts for change in their neighborhoods, offering after-school programs, youth programs, and community meetings.
- Rivera emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership, including both minority and Eurocentric leaders, while maintaining a focus on the substance of education rather than just symbols.
Holistic Education and Community Impact
- FLACS schools are designed to be holistic, addressing the whole person and providing a strong character curriculum to teach spiritual values through character education.
- Rivera discusses the vision for FLACS to expand and provide affordable housing through the redevelopment of their buildings.
- The high school theme of community justice is introduced, where students examine community systems and work on internships and portfolios to understand and address systemic issues.
- Rivera highlights the importance of charter schools in providing more innovative and contextual education, free from the bureaucratic constraints of traditional public schools.
Challenges and Innovations in Charter Schools
- Rivera acknowledges the challenges faced by charter schools, including the need for innovative and contextual education without the bureaucratic impediments of centralized systems.
- He emphasizes the importance of community accountability and the role of community boards in overseeing and improving schools.
- Rivera criticizes the centralization of the educational system, which has removed parents from the decision-making process and created a disconnect between the grassroots and the district offices.
- He advocates for the reform of the entire educational system, using charter schools as one tool among many to achieve this goal.
Role of Charter Schools in Public Education
- Rivera argues that charter schools are part of the public school movement and should be seen as an answer, alongside other creative solutions, to reform public education.
- He emphasizes the need for community-grown and community-connected charter schools, with boards that reflect the community and are aligned with the school’s vision.
- Rivera advises educators and leaders to have a clarity of vision and to be contextual and community-connected if they cannot be community-grown.
- He concludes by reiterating that charter schools are not the ultimate answer but are an important part of the movement to reform public education and provide better educational opportunities for all children.
