Facing Barriers...

I found the visit to Holmes Elementary School interesting and enjoyed the insights provided to us by Steve Barnes, the principal. There were striking similarities to the primary school that I attended back in the UK and I could recognise with a lot of the barriers he spoke about. I found him to be honest, enthusiastic and passionate about his role in providing the children at Holmes school the best academic and emotional start to their future that he could. I was surprised that 54% of the school’s enrolment was ‘turned over’ each year. It must be incredibly difficult for the staff to maintain a level of consistency with such challenges to contend with.

I was particularly interested with how the school cared for the children both academically and emotionally, how they promoted the aspirations of the children and how they managed the funding in particular respect to extra-curricular activities such as field trips. It is often difficult to encourage children who face such overwhelming barriers that education is a means to a better life, and I thought the programme the school participated in with local college students was invaluable. I participate in a similar programme back in the UK, to encourage children that another way is possible.

In my personal opinion, I feel that one field trip every year for each class is a remarkable achievement for the school. Often, funds within challenging schools are needed for extra staff and resources, that field trips are often sacrificed as a consequence. Field trips provide children with the opportunity to build on their cultural capital and often involve critical thinking skills or thinking “outside of the box”. I am pleased that the school continues to strive to provide the students with such valuable opportunities.