Canton students write their councilman
Canton Middle School students participating in a civic engagement program run by the nonprofit Students Sharing Coalition have written letters to City Councilman Jim Kraft explaining why they want a new middle/high school to go in their building. While the decision is not Kraft's to make and the school system is going ahead with plans for the new school despite community opposition, Kraft has threatened to hold up the system's budget, which goes before the council at a hearing on Friday.
In their letters, the students describe why they want a better education and what they will do to make Canton a better community. I'm posting 10 of the letters here.
Dear Councilman Kraft,
My name is Kiyisha Thomas. I am a student at Canton Middle #230. I heard this school will become an Friendship Academy here. I am in the 8th grade. I am all for the new school I am for the new school because I can’t find a school for me. Also, I’m in a wheelchair. So, it is hard for me to find a school for me. The Friendship Academy is a good thing for me. I would like to see different things happening to this school. I would like to see cleaner bathrooms, better school books, new desks and seat in each classroom. Also, I would like to see and feel heat all over the building. Some community member say students hurt the community. I would react by letting all good behaved children (attend the new school). I brought a lot of positive things for the community. I went on mapping day. I went around my neighborhood picking up trash. I also help my mom make money for charity.
Thanks for your time
Kiyisha Thomas.
P.S. I hope these things can happen.
Dear Councilman Kraft
My name is Tywon Johnson I am in the 8th grade I think the canton middle school time is up but I am in favor of getting a Friendship Public Charter School. Some people say that students at this school hurt the community but it’s not all. students like me who are good deserve a chance so the charter school would be good. Actually I think students help the community with ms. Molly [an Americorps Vista who teaches the civic engagement curriculum at Canton]. Thank you ... for your time.
Tywon Johnson
Dear Councilman Kraft
My name is Tavon O’neal. I love to act. I wanna be a actor when I grow up. I’m a good student. I want to be an actor, but I can’t If I don’t get my education. I want you to make Canton Middle School, clean, fresh and into a new school with good attitude. I Really want my future. I know you will do this for us... Hope you do it in a dash. My future is Acting. I’m not giving up... Because when the time come, Trust me, I’m going to make it.
Thank you Councilman Kraft
Yours sincerly
Tavon Oneal
Dear Councilman Kraft,
My Name is Keona Wright I AM A 7th grade student At CANtON Middle School. I would Like to see CANtON Change into a good school for the community And for students who Actually want to Learn. I think that friendship charter school will be a good school for the kids who want to Learn and for the community. Yes I would say that some of the kids here at canton middle school hurt the community by throwing desk And chairs out of the window I think that kids Like that does not deserve to be in a school if All they do is destroy the property. One positive thing that I brought to this community is respect. I don’t really no what I can do to help the community but I would do whatever it takes. Thank you for your time.
Keona Wright
Dear Councilman Kraft
My name is Elizabeth Cano I’m in the 8th grade at Canton Middle School what I want Canton to look like is nice, clean, and all things that are broken they need to get fixed. I want the friendship public charter school to be in this building because I want to be here and believe that it will be a nice clean school and people might follow the rules and actually do their work. Some people do hurt the community b/c they might have no idea of what to do if to do good or to do bad and they choose to do bad and say that they are bad but they know that they want to do good be excellent and have good grades. What I can do in the community to make it better for everyone is give people a chance b/c they can change and maybe give prizes to the kids that do well in school.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Cano
Dear Mr. Councilman Kraft
My name is Abdikadir... I want the Friendship public charter school to be here. The school is going to be greater and no bad student. im just here to learn and do my best and All student in canton are not the same. I will help the community to clean and pick trash and it will be better... thank u for your time,
Abdikadir
Dear Councilman Kraft
My name is yamece Coleman I go to school at Canton Middle School. This will be my last year here at Canton my years here 6th-8th have been okay. But when I leave the 7th grade will have no place to go... Well by me going to Canton I would treat this like my home by being respectful to others that live in the property of my school building... I think that it would be greatif Canton could stay open.
Thanks so
Much yamece Coleman
Dear Councilman Kraft
Hi my name is Deana and I am in the 7th grade. What I want to see happen to this school is for it to be a good highschool/Middle School and for all the students to get a good education. I am in favor of the Friendship public Charter School because I want a good education and I do want to learn.
Sincerely,
Deana Morgan
Dear Councilman Kraft
My name is Brittany Collins. I am a 8th grader at Canton Middle School. I would not like you to close this school Because I have a little Brother that is in 4th grade at general wolfe academy and instead of him going to dunbar or Lombard (I) would want my little brother to go to Canton Middle Because he would be safer here than at Lombard or dunbar i think Same with everyone elses Brother.
A Student at Canton
Brittany Collins
Im in the eigth grade and I go to canton middle school. Yes I think it’s better then closing it down we already have Highlandtown closed down then we will have to go far away to go to school. We don’t hurt the community that’s how they judge us because we might get loud or walk in big crowds but some of us are nice and they shouldn’t Judge us because we don’t judge them. The thing I could do to help around heat is to keep it clean and respect them if they give me respect.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely
Keon lemon
Categories: Baltimore City, School Diversity/Segregation
Comments
While I know that some others will take this opportunity to find fault with spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure, I am exceptionally proud of both the students for finding voice and for the teachers who understand the term "teachable moment". This is what good schools do when given the chance. If Canton leadership and teachers had been given the freedom to develop units that get kids using the standards but in ways that capture the teachable moment things there would be quite different. Teachers don't need to look far to find issues that matter to kids, issues that motivate "those kids" to want to read, write, compute and think. The issues are there and I am glad to see our teachers helping our kids realize that they can make a difference.
And to Mr. Kraft, please make time to respond and address the concerns of *your* constituents.
Power-On!
Posted by: Interesting Observations | May 15, 2008 11:48 AM
I think these letters debunk certain myths hovering around the debate.
1. Not all students who go to Canton are destructive and misbehaved, in fact in my experiences the vast majority are not.
2. These students WANT a good education.
3. Many of these students live around Canton and walk to school, they're not all bussed in from the city's worse pockets.
4. Many of these students have already given back to the community and want to continue to do so.
Posted by: Corey | May 15, 2008 11:50 AM
Thank you for posting those poignant letters, Sara. It's important for us to remember that our schools have lots of good kids who want to learn. There are far more of them than there are disruptive students. Unfortunately, in the classroom, and in the media, the disruptive students take the focus off the students who are trying to get an education. We need to do more to meet their needs and showcase their achievements.
Posted by: Avalon | May 15, 2008 11:56 AM
It's amazing that in a discussion between Canton Middle students, Canton residents, and the Friendship Charter School, no one wanted to hear the opinion of one of the major parties involved.
Thank you Sara for allowing the students' voices to be heard!
Posted by: Corey | May 15, 2008 11:56 AM