The Lottery of Learning

Pollard BLS 3010 I feel Charter Schools are good but the process for these kids to get into the school has to improve. For them to have a open ceremony where all the kids that are chosen celebrate the fact they got into the school while the kids who were not picked have to watch, can be disheartening and disruptive to the kids self-esteem. If the draft process is a little more private. The documentary itself was for insightful on the hope that parents have in their kids going into a charter school. Also it shed light on the success rate of charter schools compare to public schools, and how parents that were not born here look at education as a "means to an end"

I didn't get to watch the lottery with the class but I had the liberty of watching last semester. I must say it is a really sad thing the the education system has come Dow to this. I remember when all I had to do as a child is take an exam to be considered to enter into a school, now it is much harder than that and the fact that these children actually have to bare witness to rejection like this is even more heart broken. It should not be this hard for children to thru to broaden their horizons to educate thenselves, just like it should be this hard for people to attend college of educate themselves and prepare for a better future. So in interim while the American education may provide a pretty descent education it truth is the worst andy the same time.

It's not fair that black students have to get into a good school through a lottery that isn't based on their education level but on luck. I feel that these charter schools should have some standardized testing to evaluate which students can attend just like how we take tests to get into high school and college. I wasn't very shocked that this competition into charter schools caused a great level of division between parents what took me by surprise was the level of hate that occurred because of this competition and the hate that occurred between public school parents who were unwilling to share space with charter schools. I understand the need for better and more schools in the city but charter schools do create a problem because they are sharing a building with students from another school. I know educators hope that this creates integration between students from both school but it actually creates division and it doesn't have to do with the students but the adults, the faculty that enforces this division because they feel their school is threatened. Ultimately despite parents wanting the best for their kids, this conflicting dynamic causes the children to suffer. I'm actually a product of Parochial school where we had to pay tuition. I understand from the documentary that black parents can't afford to move to Westchester or some other white community to allow their kids to have a better education, but the point is they are willing to pay for that better education. The majority of students in my Parochial school were black because their parents didn't mind paying extra as long as their kids were better educated. Unfortunately, many Parochial schools have been closed due to lack of funding which may also contribute to the shortage of schools and the need for school lotteries, as unfair as that may be. I want to add that getting a child into a good school also extends to all minorities, even Asians despite the stereotype that we just excel. I used to volunteer at a Chinese-American school in Queens and what the parents used to do is spend extra money to send their children to prep schools on the weekend where the school education system was lacking. And sadly some parents can't afford to do any of those things (Parochial school, prep school) so they can only rely on charter schools and that situation is horrible. And education is one of the keys to rising above poverty. The documentary was very disheartening.

.Being a product of the charter school system and a small lottery myself I know how disheartening the process can be for younger children. Harlem was a perfect for the documentary to be filmed, it is a place where there are so many people trying to make a change but have yet to find a voice. Harlem is also a place where at an even at a young age negativity is embraced and “being too smart” is a bad thing. For these kids the lottery can be the first time they experience such pressure and if they aren’t picked they get their first lesson on life’s many letdowns.

Alana Cornish BLS 3010 It's hard to not be emotionally affected and despondent from the "The Lottery". For me the film held deeper meaning because I now live in the area where the movie based its prime location on. To walk down the streets and see the schools boarded up or over run by bums is disheartening. To look at the faces of children in what I can now say is my community and realize there fighting a fight they may not even be aware of makes me want to step up and take charge. I can't say one one institution is better then the other because the bases of the film exulted charter schools and only talked about the negative side of zoned schools but what I can say is this new age world is in need of a drastic shift in the educational system. The methods and traditional teaching styles are not sufficient for the overall change of our country. With the advancement of technology and the growing rate of diversity schools must incorporate new practices and standards into the overall structure. It has been a consistent argument that students learn more and retain information when it's related to what they experience and see in their own day to day life. I loved when the teacher gave the student the opportunity to call a life line when he did not know the answer. In that short moment he incorporated current popular culture, and encouraged student to student interaction. It's the joint partnership of soft life skills and text book knowledge that will allow students to thrive and ultimately be an asset to the overall strength of our country. I am interested to see if certain zoned schools are incorporating some of the same practices that charter schools are implementing. At this time not every student can go to a charter school, as this was depressingly displayed in The Lottery. However if the overall goal is the well being and academic growth of the child then charter school educators and administrators should join forces with zoned schools to share best practices.

After coming from school, my mother asked how was my first day of class to which I replied “Eye opening. We watched a film titled The Lottery which I found to be really good. Her reaction: “Oh you watched The Lottery, it was funny right?” I replied to her saying, “No mom, not the movie with Bow Wow”. LOL. My mom truly made me chuckle with that comment but once I explained to her what the movie was about, she fired off saying “charter schools are dumb, there’s no need for them. Do these children even want to go to school? What are the parents doing for the children and their selves, I bet nothing.” Truly surprised to her reaction, I explained to my mother that the families were very active in their children’s lives and wanted something they considered superior. I asked “what five-year child does not want to learn? That’s all they should know how to do at that age”. Growing up in Far Rockway, I understand where her disbelief comes from. I went to my zoned Elementary and Junior High School. For JHS, I was admitted to the Advanced Learning Institute bka the ALI Program. We were at the other end of the hall from “Regular Education” and our teachers we’re different in terms of how they taught, their interest in our progression, and the workload they provided. Being in that program helped me get accepted to Brooklyn Technical High School after passing the placement test. – which used to be one of the only three specialized HS in the city. There, I found myself continuing of the success of education averaging over 90% in all classes. The other students of my school mostly ended up in Far Rockaway HS, which is where everyone went to because it was the only zoned high school. The students there were exposed to excessive daily fighting, drug transactions and failing courses. I was excited to know that the school was closed down and turned into several different charter schools not too many years ago in an effect to provide different options. I think because of the area, seeing how I was treated by the other students for being in the ALI program is one of the main reasons my mother moved us to Valley Stream. I have to agree that the movie was subjective and gave off a very pro-charter school feel. With comments such as the average black 12th grader is reading at the level of the average white 8th grader and 58% of black 4th graders are illiterate it makes you feel as if the local schools are failing and charters are the way to go. Why would you want to send your child to the local zoned school when “19 have less than 50% of the students performing at reading level” (in Harlem). I never knew about the whole charter process so I appreciate this film for informing me but it also opened my eyes to how much the school system is about business and not about the students. I am not saying charter schools are the end all be all, but the parents should have more options than their one or two zoned school for their child. It is also the parent’s responsibility to be very active in their children educational and learning experiences – they should be teaching their children from an early start to prepare them for school, supplementing what the teachers are providing. My great grandmother and mother always read to me and with me as a child. Every weekend my mom would take me to Jamaica Center library to pick out books for me to read and made sure I had computer programs to practice my math and reading. There’s so many questions to be answred such as why are the failing schools located in the areas were poverty is rampant? Why aren’t they reviewed yearly for progression to determine if they should remain open or not? And why were only 10 teahcers fired for low performance???! But at the end of the day, unfortunately it all comes down to race & class.

Jones,T 3010 The documentary “The Lottery” was heart wrenching. The entire idea of being lucky is elusive to a child and is something they should not have to experience at such an early age, especially when it is about a good education that they should feel entitled to. As parents we understand the feeling of disappointment and rejection, therefore, we should not subject our children to such an emotion. As well, the parents shouldn’t have put their hope in one school with limited spots. The idea that some children are entitled to a good education and others are not; and trying to sell that idea to a community that may not be as informed, is cause for battle. I believe conversations and information must take place in our communities and an allotted amount of spaces should go to zone schools that are replaced with charter schools. We all can agree there is plenty of work to be done for us by us.

Attending Catholic School as a child and prior to veiwing this documentary titled "The Lottery" I had little knowledge on Charter schools in NYC. "The Lottery" was an upsetting however true documentary which exposed the situation occuring witin the NYC public school sytsem. I do think that change is definatly possible however I beleive change must first begin in the home. Healthy habbits must start at home and parents have to realize the impact they have on their children in order to encourage them in a positive manner. If the parents tell a child school is not important or that the child does not need to go to college, this has an affect on the child therefore the child may not feel the need to create any goals for their education or even have a need to go on to college later. I beleive that the lottery for acceptance into a Charter Schoo is a good idea even though it may seem unfair to the children who do not get picked. I am sure these children as well as the parents who were not choosen are let down, disapointed, or may even hold resentment for various reasons. The child who was not picked may even feel left out as i would imagine but hopefully will not fall through the cracks and continue to sign up for other lotteries in the future or in other areas and hopefully get accepted eventually. I think when a child is not at grade reading level and not practicing at home can obvioulsy have a negative effect on the child becasue he or she will become fustrated and eventually loose interest and can easily fall behind. I have seen it happen so many times.

After seeing the documentary “The Lottery”, it was definitely a confirmation that, even though African-Americans have come a long way since the Civil Rights movement, as a people, we certainly have a grand distance as far as educating our youth and uplifting our communities. It was surprising how extremely low the literacy of African-American students was in the public schools in Harlem—statistically, less than half of these children were reading at the expected grade level. What made me a bit emotional was, that based on these statistics estimations of space for correctional facilities were made. This just broke my heart. With this profound data set before them, there remains no incentive for board of education to correct what appears to be the problem, which are the procedures we use to educate our children. I was stunned to see ACORN--a social service organization whose purpose, as I believed, was to be positive, HELP struggling communities-- actively partake in misinforming parents. We’ve mentioned in class that communication is everything. A reason as to why parents view charter schools as the “devil” is mainly because of miscommunication. The intent of Harlem Success Academy obviously is perspicuous to these parents, and all is needed is some clarification. HSA’s agenda is not to kick their child out of the classroom, but to give their child possibilities. Their main focus from the child is admitted is to give them a focus, a goal. Having the students regard college as a possibility very early on is showing them that it is attainable and that they are well capable of achieving. To restore an education system that has evidently failed, and has ultimately deprived our children of a bright and fulfilled future. Then, with this knowledge, I must assume, parents will not be so opposed to the idea. Of course, the parent is partially responsible for why their child is so academically behind. Education doesn’t begin when you chuck little Zaniyah onto the school bus in the morning, to when you pick them up that afternoon…it must be practiced at home, which I know to be irregular amongst minorities (and Dora the Explorer can’t teach her everything there is needed to be known either). But how can I expect otherwise? I have to remember that these parents are a product of the exact flawed system, and so the ignorance perpetuates itself. The experience of the lottery for a child, I can imagine, must be devastatingly harsh or discouraging, but there may be a slight pro to the process. What the lottery does is expose the child to a competitive environment. If the child does not get their name picked, then you simply explain to them the importance of education, how competitive it is, and how much of a necessity it is. School is a competition, life is a competition as well. So yes, it hurts to see them distraught, but hopefully this will cause them to be tough.

After reading these comments, I have a few reactions to the ideas presented, charter schools, and the lottery system. The ideas presented here, to me, is a culmination of yes, charter schools present an option for a better education, but the system itself may be set up in a way that is disheartening for children. My belief is that charter schools represent a different approach to learning and teaching. Yes it is sad that not every student can get into charter schools but having that option available is the next best thing. It shows you that it is possible. That there is something better out there and there is no need to settle with a failing zone school. This brings me to my reactions to the lottery system. Charter Schools were set up so that admissions were done through lottery. Should the children be present? Yes and No. When you get rejected, you can do one of two things - pout and think you aren't good enough, or prove to yourself and others that you have what it takes and you will succeed. If the children see that they didn't get in because of the luck of the draw, it is my belief that the parent and child should work hand in hand to create their own stellar education. Charter schools are not the end all be all of education and while it is a start, it is possible to have a great education without it. Taking it as a complete rejection should not be the choice. Like a few people mentioned, some after-school programs are phenomenal but may not be taken advantage of. The resources are there, people just need to look. Which brings me to the topic of 425 Book Club Project. This org is taking a stand against what is failing in our society. Literacy and education is just not a major concern but this program forces people to take notice. We can make change; it is possible, and it can start with one person. Fixing this mess of an education system won't happen over night but dammit we can try. BCP is trying and BCP will make change.

Like I said in class before, they had the screening for this film at my job and it was an emotional moment for everyone. I got to meet all the kids that were part of the film. It is sad that America is running on this old a** system that has been failing in the inner cities. Charter schools seem to have the best interest in all kids, if people left their ignorance at the door and see what was in store they would probably support it 100%. These schools are free, what is not to like about that. I went to public school from Pre-K to 5th grade, after that I was giving an opportunity to attend catholic school in Harlem and continued on until high school. It wasn't until yesterday when it hit me, that I am partial selfish. I was the only one in the family to attend private catholic schools, while my little brothers went to these crap schools in their zone. My dad is always nagging in my ear that I “never” helped them and blah, blah, blah. After tearing while watching the film, it was at that moment, I fully needed to get my act together. My parents didn’t finish junior high school, so it is right for them to be hard on us. I related to Emil and his son Christian, because my dad is the same way when he was teaching us math. I really understand my purpose for life now and I have to do well. I am ready to help anywhere as long they accept it.

I like the Lottery and think it was moving, convincing and gives us hope. (also the soundtrack is moving and appropriate to the theme.) We can stipulate that such a program works and is beneficial to the community and nation at large. This documentary supports the notion that our educational failure lies within the system and that the system needs tweaking. A system like the Harlem Success Academy is in order if we are to educate our minority children and give them an equal chance to succeed. However, there are issues that run deeper than race and inequality. We wish that things and answers were simple, but they are not. The problem I had with the documentary was that it was slanted and favored only the implementation of such programs. It completely ignored the Constitutional issues presented by the program. Is this program fair, or even Constitutional? At least if you were to pick a state lottery to win a million dollars it is arguably fair because everyone, regarless of race or other classification, you have an equal chance to win! What criteria are they using for entrance into the Harlen Success Academy? The only 'real' criteria is for the most part is that you are part of a minority group, at least de facto? This sounds like (reverse) discrimination. Recent Supreme Court decisions have held that affirmative action programs are unconstitutional, didn't they? I have no problem with supporting programs such as these based on some criteria, such as a combination of extreme need, economic hardship, and merit..but when there is no 'real' criteria I have to question its constitutionality or fairness. -----won--3010

Surprisingly this was the first time that I've heard of the Lottery. Both the movie and the actual event. I know that there have been Charter Schools being placed all over the city, but never really looked into them or paid attention to them. For example my zone HS is Thomas Jefferson HS in East NY (which I did not attend) was shutdown about a year ago and was replaced by a Charter school. Now I think of the students that went to that HS as now have to go to another school in another district with the other 'bad johns'. And what do you have under privileged students with other under privileged students. And these are the students that will pull a knife on you if you look at them the wrong way. These are the students where some teachers will teach for 2 years to "look good". I think this makes the students feel less than others. If not pushed or told that they can do better they are put in a state of complacency where most have been their whole lives. As was mentioned today it is sometimes not the child/students fault--it is the parents. For the parents who make sure their children have the basic reading and math skills before they start kindergarten they need to continue to support and invest their time and effort into their children for the mere fact that you are putting them ahead of their class if they have not been chosen by the Lottery. The parents who do not take the time out, are simply putting their child's best interest on the back burner. These are the kids that can not read before they begin school, cant read while at school, and have no desire to learn to read outside of class time. I have no children of my own, but my mother took the time out to teach my brother and I math and reading when we were growing up before we hit Kindergarten. This instilled a desire in my brother and I to stick with the reading and math and to stay in school and actually want to learn. But What can you expect with kids raising kids?

I found “The Lottery” to be thought provoking and informative. However, I couldn’t help notice the bias in favor of charter schools. This was evident in the way that those speaking in favor of the charters seemed more composed and articulate while those opposing the charter school were portrayed as ignorant and immature in their display of emotion. For example, those adults in favor of the alternative form of education were portrayed as caring and empathic towards children while those opposed were portrayed as angry, selfish and distrusting. The film also caused me to wonder about the self-esteem of the children featured in this documentary. Children take their cues from their parents as to how to react to certain situations. When I was a child my family moved a lot so I was educated in the NYC public school system in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. I remember being bussed to a school outside my zone and later taking public transportation while in junior high school just so I could go to a “better school”. But it all seemed normal because the decision was made for me and presented to me as such. A healthy self-esteem starts at home, and in the film we see some children looking concerned, but we also see some that are playing patty-cake or entertaining themselves in some other form while waiting for the adults to conclude their meeting. When my children were young our free time together was spent not only at the playground but also at free cultural events. As a result they have very eclectic taste in music, love the arts and use these to channel excess energy and relieve stress. It is important that while parents wait for the right opportunity to transfer their child, they use other resources to enhance their child’s learning. Today, the New York public libraries offer free story-time, movie-time and computer usage, as well as some cultural programs such as art exhibits and concerts. Parents should also take advantage of museums that offer free admissions or pay what you wish admission. For those parents that are too busy, there are after school programs, and of course reading should be encouraged at home and should begin by parents setting an example. I used to read to my children at bedtime and I believe this bonding time increased their love of reading. For those parents who choose not to read to their child, there are programs available in public schools for students who can’t read before they get to school and can’t read while in school. But it is up to the adults to get the child into these programs. And for those children who have no desire to learn to read outside of class time, the first step in helping them is to find out what is keeping them from wanting to engage in such an enjoyable activity. We must first find the cause before we can apply the right remedy.

Although there was no lack of discouraging statistics, no want of ignorance, greed and selfishness, and perhaps most disquieting, no “happily ever after” ending to assuage the spirit, The Lottery, nevertheless, left me hopeful about the vehicles for educational reform that do exist for our children. I was very much inspired by Eva Moskowitz, the founder of the Harlem Success Academy charter schools, and her team. Their passion for children and dedication to their academic success are critical components missing in many of today’s teachers, community leaders, politicians, and most importantly, parents. Education is so valuable to our children, in part because it informs their self-concept - what they think they ought to be or could be. It actually begins in the home, and regardless of whether it is a positive or negative experience, education shapes our children’s identity, perception of the world around them (and there place in it), attitudes and behaviors. In response to the question of what happens to the self esteem of children who don’t win the lottery, I believe that these children ultimately take their cue from their parents. Although disappointed, possibly fearful and frustrated, parents must be careful not to transfer their negative feelings to their children, but to, instead, shield them whenever possible. While many children may naturally still suffer some disappointment, ultimately when home represents a safe place of unconditional love, value, affirmation and correction (among other critical components of well-being), they are less likely to suffer any long-term damage to their self-esteem. Concerning the issue of childhood literacy, again I believe parents are the first teachers and should begin reading to their children as early and as frequently as possible. Children who are unable to read, or who struggle with reading, are at a disadvantage and, sadly, often remain so throughout their school years and beyond. Reading programs, which utilize current technologies and incorporate students’ interests may provide new and creative solutions to addressing this problem.

When I was in Korea and became 5~6years old, I wasn’t obligated to attend kindergarten. At that time, I was able to learn language, basic mathematical skills such as subtraction, addition with parents, and these were enough to learn at that age. That wasn’t just my story, but also many children didn’t attend kindergarten in my country because of money or useless. However, nowadays the process of education is absolutely started from kindergarten in every country, and unfortunately most parents are extremely busy, so they can’t teach their children at home. In fact, the children should go to kindergarten to acquire language, have friends and learn about relationship because we live in connection with many people especially in New York. Personally, I really enjoyed the documentary. When I watched “The Lottery”, I was completely shocked because as an Asian, I didn’t have chance to know about education systems for black children. Many parents especially colored can’t afford to send their children to private school, so reluctantly they try to find out a limited slot. Of course, charter school lottery is a great opportunity for some lucky family, but what about those who don’t get in to school? Many families will go home without an acceptance letter from Harlem success chatter school. This lottery system is very bad and sad reality, the parents don’t like gambling with the children’s’ future, rather have more schools. I believe that the great educational options should be satisfy with the opening of additional charter schools.

I would like to first of apologize to the American people for the way in which I have judged them based on my ignorance. I was led to believe that because so many talents were born in this country, everyone else had an equal chance to prove what they are capable of doing. I also thought that education which is so crucial to success would be accessible to every citizen. As a result every underachieved American was labeled as being “lazy” by me. Today in class, “The Lottery” made me realize how mistaken I was. It has opened my eyes to understanding how the real America works and how difficult it is for minorities to get ahead in this country. I did not realize that there was such a vast difference in the quality of education obtained from an affluent community to that of the less privileged. It is wonderful that something is being done to bridge that gap by introducing Charter schools to the educational system. However the administrators need to devise a better method in selecting the students into their schools. It is heartbreaking to see these young children being disappointment when they don’t get picked.

The lottery is one of those movies that is relevant for so many social and political changes that it conveys. It is one of the rawest forms in which we get to bare witness to the beauty of a school that can help make change in urban and inner city communities. Its goal is to uplift the community through knowledge and I think that while there is nothing wrong with that some of their methods were a bit harsh. These kids have an idea of whats going on during these ceremonies because kids are extremely smart and fast. Sometimes they are smarter than adults. The pressure that these schools along with their parents put on them could gear them up for an extreme emotional upset if things do not go the way they want. I believe there has to be a better way to make all the kids still feel equal without emotionally crippling them. An event such as this runs the risk of having a damaging effect on how they view the world. It can create a resentment that can grow like a plant in their little minds until it feeds into self destruction or the destuction of others. This kind of rejection can make a kid feel they are not smart enough or worthy enough even though it is in fact just the random luck of the draw. There are a couple of things they could do to reduce the risk of any of these things from happening. They could just allow the parents to show up for an event like that or they could send the winners an email or a letter. What’s ironic is that while these programs are good for education they have no sense of tact and are extremely emotionless when it comes to the feelings of others, in particular, the very children that they are trying to save. Kids that cannot read before school are more doomed to failure than a child who is already reading and counting before. Kids that can read have the upper hand and it automatically puts them ahead of others in more ways than one. I, for one, am extremely grateful that my parents taught me how to read, pronounce words and count before school began. In my experience from school to school it helped me to understand the difference it had on the impact of my education. If a kid cannot read before or during school it makes them more likely to fail later in life because they won’t know what is going in the world. It also creates an advanced desire, in some cases, to reject knowledge and wanting to learn the older they get as we all get stuck in our ways at some point in time. It also goes back to what was said in the movies about how they base reading scores on how many prisons to build. While this is a sick method it definitely shows that even at an early age the powers that be would rather write us off than save our futures. It kind of makes me feel that those in our inner city communities are set up for failure before we can crawl. Change is possible and it starts at home. While having a chance to go to a school such as this is a gift and an advantage we must control our own futures with or without it.

The Lottery is the story of every inner city in America. Although Harlem is the centerpiece for this documentary, the issue with class, race, the have and have not’s is the American story. I had a cluster of feelings watching this film. As a parent, I felt a sense of despair for the parents who were so angry with the idea of the charter schools being in their children’s school. See, this is part of the problem. People don’t know what they’re standing for anymore, easily influenced by a bigger agenda that’s not in the best interest of their children. The NYC school system is laced with bureaucracy, and there is more of a concern to keep the children impoverished and uneducated to build more juvenile detention centers and jails, which is a multi-million dollar business. Unions are protecting the teachers, but there isn’t a union to protect our children. The parents are responsible for that protection, and that is not being done to it’s fullest potential. Although charter schools are just stepping stones to reform, and has proven to show measurable results for improvement, you can not negate the fact that the charter schools are a moving force in the inner city.

Although well put together, this documentary was definitely subjective; pro charter school. I would have to do my research to determine if charter schools are a viable option toward improving the inner city education system as the video suggests. As far as kids reading outside of the parameters of a class room, I don't think ANY education reform will solve this problem. Can it help? Yes, but I truly believe the root of our problem lies within our cultural values. Black children in this generation, males in particular have been socially cultivated to participate in things outside of education (entertainment: basketball, rap, and hustling). This mentality has been forced on us not only by parents, but by peers and the social pressures of wanting to identify with ontological blackness, or simply "what it means to be black". So our problems lie much deeper than a few bad test scores. These scores aren't good because the kids are just dumb or the teachers are so bad, they simply don't aspire or put forth the effort to be smart. As proof of this look at the stats between the black male and female college success rate. Disproportionate because young black men are trying to attain different goals and education isn't one of them. Female basketball isnt popular or lucrative, rap industry is damn near impossible for females, and I've only known 1 female drug dealer in my life. Education is deemed a "better" option for black females so that is where their focus lies. Sidebar: the deaf woman who was dancing when her kid got in had mad swag!!!

My reaction to The Lottery was pretty strong. The documentary proved that America’s education system is truly broken and a change has to happen. We constantly hear on the news how teachers and administrators are cheating to help improved their student’s state exam. This shows that teachers and school administrators are not primarily concern about a child’s education but with test results. The national government places too much emphasis on test results and this takes away a child’s education because they might be learning just the test materials. Public school falls into this category because they are state funded and they have enormous pressure to perform well on test exams to continue getting funds. We see in the documentary that one of the PS school is closing because test results show that they are not performing well. Why do we rely so much on test results? We know that tests are biased. Therefore I think charter school will help children to get the right education they deserved.

Before watching The Lottery I had no idea Charter Schools ran on a lottery system. I knew they existed but I never took any interest in it because Charter Schools never applied to me. It is definitely one of those living in ignorance things. It’s sad that as a society we allow it to happen. No child’s school education should depend on whether or not their name is pulled out of a hat. At the same time parents must be willing to make up for the lack of education found in classrooms. Even if it’s just bringing your child to the library, you’re giving them more of a chance and a better use of resources then what the child had before. I believe while at the lottery, when faced with rejection, younger kids feel rejected or disappointed because of their parents not because the kids themselves feel rejected. Younger children don’t think about they didn’t get into the school but more like why does someone else get their name called and walk across the stage and I don’t. The rejection comes later in life when and if they are stuck in an under performing setting for various years. This is the time when children start to think “Why not me?” and may start to hold grudges against society.

Morris- 3010 Being from the Caribbean, I have never had a firsthand experience with the whole lottery system. I have never had a firsthand experience with the American education up until now. Besides from what I’ve heard from others, watching the documentary was a good and real insight into how the education system really affects the everyday black person in America. Just like countries, my country’s education system has its pros and cons but we never had a system where students gained a place in school like this. Arguably, the main things that are similar with my country and America’s education system are the practice of meritocracy mixed with whether or not or parents could afford sending us to a public or private school. However, I personally feel that we shouldn’t give up completely on the public school system. I’ve seen in my country where public schools at the primary level of education have changed and improved over the years. These changes have led to most public primary level schools to be at the same level and earn the same prestige as most the private schools. In some cases, they outperform private schools and parents see the chance of moving their children from private to public school without losing out on the high value of education. The only real difference is the cost and affordability. Every child is different and their response to situations follow suit. The more emphasis and importance that is placed on gaining a place at schools like Harlem Success or any other charter school, the deeper the disappointment will be. With not winning the lottery, I think children will innately feel the deep disappointment from their parents. It’s possible that they may feel as if they had let down their family and themselves by not getting in and no child should feel that way. For the students who can’t read before they start school, they are without a doubt at a disadvantage. Personally, I think the parents or guardians should be held accountable for this. They are the key persons who help shape these children intellectually, emotionally and socially during the first years of their lives. They know that it is the standard in society to know how to recognize and pronounce words, to some extent, before they start school. For those who are at school and can’t read while at school, they must feel confused and sadly “stupid” because instead of moving forward they are taking two steps back. It is disappointing to know that this is the reality of the world and it seem as if society has already failed them before they even got the chance to reach their full potential. The education of children, I believe, is a joint effort of both the school and parents. The school can do so much and no more in providing an education with the resources they have. However, at the same time they shouldn’t be filled with pride to turn away valuable aid that can help their students to grow and develop and parents shouldn’t entirely put the responsibility of education on just the school. Their children’s educational success is, to some extent, greatly determined by their involvement and simply by how much they really care about their children. Morris- 3010

Bowen -3010 Before I give my reaction, I just want to say I grew up in Valley Stream, Long Island with a single parent, two younger siblings and went to one of Elmont School Free District’s public elementary schools. Although it was mixed from preschool till 4th grade (with Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians), as I got older it became less diverse and I went from 7th-12th grade with mostly people of African descent. When I say of African descent, I mean Caribbeans, Blacks, and Latinos. So I am extremely appalled by the lottery. I feel so far removed from that “lifestyle” of not getting my education from a good public school that it’s hard to believe this actually goes on. I think that this whole education system and the fact that these schools are ranking so poorly is mainly because of what occurs at home. Although the parents in the actual documentary were instilling the knowledge their children needed for school I believe many parents in similar situations aren’t, yet they send their badly behaved or undereducated children off to school everyday unmotivated or unchanged. What kind of message does that send to the children, their peers, and the teachers who actually try to educate them? It’s pretty much telling them they’re worthless, don’t have a future, or worse, will end up just like their parents (a vicious yet inevitable cycle). The charter schools who are helping many children become more educated have the right parents backing the idea that, “Yes! This is what my child deserves and I am willing to make the sacrifices to make them successful for the future!” A big issue I have with the lottery is the fact that the child is present and at such a young age experiencing failure. To be honest the child doesn’t have a choice in the matter and doesn’t fully grasp the importance of this “event,” so why have them there if they don’t win the lottery? All in all, I believe we have to “suck the poison out” before we can heal the situation of poorly ranking schools and again that begins at home.

“The Lottery” is a powerful movie of which I felt the tug of two emotions while watching. The first is the joy I felt seeing a major production covering real issues that I am sympathetic towards. I myself have felt the effects of New York City’s failing public educational system, because I went to more than one failing school. The other emotion is one of disheartening concern because the major problems of New York City’s public educational systems in urban areas continue to exist. If a business is failing, they have two choices. They can revaluate the current system and make drastic changes or they can simply “go under.” For our educational system “going under” is not an option so the former should be acted upon. Not only actions on behave of the public education system, but action amongst the communities who these failing schools impact. Studies have shown the correlation between illiterate children and criminal activity. They basically go hand in hand. The major hurdles for change are the educational bureaucracy that put the interest of adults over those of the students. Businesses focus on their customers and are concerned with producing a product or service that would benefit their needs and wants. As a result, the business creates a business model to accomplish just that. However in our New York City public educational system, the focus is not on the student’s needs, and the educational model is proof of that because it has remained unchanged for decades. In my opinion more charter schools would create greater accountability, lessen bureaucratic affects and ultimately lead to excellence in New York City’s public educational system. Parents should not bring their children to lottery events. I do not think a child should be put in a position where their self-esteem could suffer over something they have no control over. While yes it might be joyous if your child is accepted to the school of your liking, but what if they are not accepted? You run the risk of your child seeing his or her future dimmed by the fact they did not get into the “better” school.

Ally-3010 This documentary, in my opinion was definitely an eye opener. "The Lottery" showed me that if you are not of a certain social class the struggle for a child to have a proper education is very big. Children should not have to wait on a list to get the proper education that they deserve. No race is better than an another and the fact that children are classified by where they come from is totally unfair. While watching this video, as discussed in today's class this can really affect the self esteem of a child. It's like saying that the child is not good enough to be a part of a school. Children are sent to school to receive an education, not to be put aside just because of their social class. When the Depart of Education decides to open a school they should make sure that the quality of people that are going to work in the school are the best, not people that just come to work because it pays their bills. Personally, I grew up and I still currently live in the projects. I went to public schools my whole life, they weren't top notch, but I am very grateful for them because now I am in Baruch pursuing my Bachelor's Degree. Where you live does not have to determine who you are. People always stereotype and think that because someone lives in the projects they automatically have to be "ghetto" and they will get no where in life. To conclude, no school should be made better than others. There are people that say that the children of today are tomorrow's future. In order for these children to have a great tomorrow, their today has to be worth something and they actually need something to look forward to.

i very much enjoyed the docutmentary, it exposed to me several very serious issues that are ongoing in nyc's public school system and the way it is structured. the fact that this is the 1st im hearing of several of these issues is what disturbs me the most. although i did feel bad for the families of the children who were not chosen in the lottery i thought it was a wonderful thing done by the filmmakers to highlight these families and they're extreme desire to have they're children placed in these charter schools. i believe that is a testament to the level of education these charter schools are providing to the youth of our city. the excitement which surrounded the lottery was very refreshing to see, that these parents and theyre young children alike can be so enthusiastic about recieving a good education. that these families who come from harsh upbringings havent allowed theyre environment to impede them from seeking the best for they're children. i agree with my classmates in that i dont think the children should attend the lottery because although for those chosen it can be a very special moment i believe that it can be very disheartening to those who arent. i feel that was something that the organization handled improperly and something in which im sure they will seek to change in the future. its wonderful that the families of the children that were chosen were happy and wanted to celebrate but it isint fair to the others who werent chosen that they sit there and have it rubbed in they're faces that they werent chosen.

The documentary The Lottery was definitely an eye opener. It is disturbing to know that we (Americans) are at a point in time where promising futures of our five year olds may rely on a charter school lottery drawing. The four families in the documentary were unique when it came to their backgrounds, the parent’s education levels and professions, and their structure, yet they all share a common desire for their children – a high quality education. Harlem Success Academy and other charter schools are succeeding because they are student-focused. They are not constrained by the strict guidelines of the teacher’s union contract or the bureaucracy of the department of education. Charter schools are flexible in the sense that they understand that the needs of each child vary and they do what they can to accommodate those needs (e.g. after school tutoring, longer academic school year etc…) I admire the direction the Eva Markowitz (founder of Harlem Success Academy) is leading her schools in and the enthusiasm the educators. I do agree with the majority of the class when it comes to whether the potential students should be present at the lottery drawings. As these children sit there waiting for their names to be called and due to limited slots at these schools the majority leave these lotteries probably feeling defeated, unworthy, helpless and a slew of other mixed emotions. These events are inappropriate for the children. This hits close to home because my 15-year-old niece entered a lottery for an all girls charter school in Albany, New York. My sister was one of the first applicants, however, due to the high demand it went from a first come first serve process to a lottery and she ended up being wait listed until she eventually landed a spot. My sister described her experience at the lottery drawing as “ feeling like a drawing of a piece of paper would determine my child’s destiny.” As the children who lack the motivation, we as parents, family, educators, role models and mentors cannot give up on our leaders of tomorrow. We have to be flexible and open to new techniques on how to improve our schools. It starts at home. -Bempong BLS 3010

I was shocked while watching “The Lottery”! I grew up in Europe, and the educational system in my country is unlike the one here in New York City. I had no idea how cruel the whole lottery process is. The movie was definitely an eye-opening documentary. It is unfair to all these kids who live in tough neighborhoods to have their academic success set by a lottery. Every child deserves the right to a high quality education. In this movie I could see how desperate and anxious parents were to be able to send their kids to a better school. They want their children to a have a chance to be a college graduate, to have a better future. This movie opened up emotions inside me I never knew I had.

I was always taught, as a child, that the value of an education supersedes any of the possessions that the world could ever offer you because you will be able to control your own destiny. And, I can admit that when I was younger, I did not always understand what that actually meant, but I always knew that my mother and father expected the best of me. While watching the documentary, The Lottery, I was taken back to my childhood and my own personal testament of a similar situation that I endured. My “lottery” has getting into High School. I grew up in a predominantly white upper middle class neighborhood in the Bronx and my zoned public and middle schools were excellent, so the need to find another district or to have to move to another area never presented an issue to my parents until the 9th grade. My mother was constantly active and involved in both me and my sister’s educational advancement and she did whatever was necessary to help us excel. As a result, I was accepted into a program that helps underprivileged but high achieving minorities get into some of New York City’s best high schools. The program was excellent and changed my life forever. The connections I made, the friendships, the opportunities that were presented reshaped my entire future, and when I was accepted into a private all girls’ day school on a full scholarship; it was the best feeling in the whole world. But the number of rejections I faced, waitlists I was on and roadblocks from my public school, no child should ever have to experience that type of rejection so early in life. But, I would never change what I went through because it taught me to always persevere. When we watched those children, all waiting anxiously for their names to be called and the look on their faces when they were not, I know it’s painful but I honestly believe that when you experience a rejection of that magnitude so young, you have the best opportunity to succeed because your drive has been intensified. If not the child, then the parents, they will work harder and make it happen for their children. I was always around an environment that was conducive to learning. My mother allowed two days out of the week to watch television, Friday and Saturday, after that is was straight to books or listening to NPR radio. We learned that whether you go to the best school or are in the worst school, you take advantage of the education that is given to you. These fundamental principles prepared us for learning because it was valued in our home. My heart breaks when I hear that a child cannot or is uninterested in reading or learning because I can’t understand why. Why wouldn’t you want to better yourself? What in life is more important than reading or an education? Charter schools are a great addition to the public school system, and have been the saving grace for so many young people I know, but combating the larger problem, the public school system requires a world of change. As the documentary pointed out, the change will come but when and how long will it take. While in high school and early college I read two books that encouraged me to think about starting my own non-profit educational program; Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago, by LeAlan James and Lloyd Newman and The Gatekeepers, by Jacques Steinberg. If you thought The Lottery was compelling, the overhaul and magnitude of information about how inner-city youth are profiled and how the disparity of the rich and poor live in this nation, these books paint such a vivid picture that would force anyone to make a change. I am going to change the dynamic for inner-city youth, with my program, in my own way and there is strength in numbers. Crystal Joseph-3010

Well, I have attended one of those lottery before, you will see the disappointment in most adults and the emptiness in a child's eyes. It's not a great look and sure is not the best feeling.If the opportunity there doesn't work keep trying! Alternatives, like after school programs and tutors are there. Use them because you will have someone there to help. I feel that the learning process should come from home as the foundation in educating the youth. I also agree we should try something new like having a accelerating program too, so we can help fix in small increments what have been problematic in the educational system. I strongly disagree about shutting down schools instead of fixing them at the core. Teachers are giving a set of instructions to do there best intentions to teach kids on how to practice their social, intellectual, and psychological needs. As parent's (not one but) and single parent's, we also must teach our child(s) and the newer generations about learning. If we teach our kids about the importance of the institutions they will help guide others around them and influence the people in the community for the future to prevent failures and school fore-closured. I have a nephew that's on a waiting list for a charter school. As a uncle, I will do my best just like his parents to emphasized on education and also for him to be a kid too. We don't want to put too much pressure on the child. Kids will be kids but just guide them as much as you can to make them successful in life. Success come from home, applied in school, and will last a life time.