Unchartered Territory

The School Project: Unchartered Terrirtory

In April, on a rainy day, I took the blue line train to see a film screening of "UnChartered Territory - Charter Schools: For better or for worse?" The event was held at the Chicago Cultural Center, but the film was part of a series focusing on the affects of charter schools. Before the event I hadn't know how Charter differs from public schools. Coming from a private school I have been out of touch with what education in other neighborhoods outside of Lincoln Park is like, though, it has been important for me to understand the struggle of going to a Chicago Public School. I had also not know what a charter school was or how they function. The film was part of a series of six short films and webisodes that explore the highly contentious charter school debate in Chicago. The movie began, but there was a technical interruption that delayed the screening of the movie. We had seen some of the film, and from what I saw the movie looking promising. I had been excited to get a perspective of everyday life at a charter school. I've been curious about how youth in different neighborhoods adapt to the school system, similar to how I've adapted to going the Francis W. Parker in Lincoln Park. The film finally started and there were a lot of jump cuts between an actual school and interview with various people. I became disappointed because it was overly political. The concern was heavily over government funding and privatization. When it spoke of privatization it asked the audience to take comfort in corporate run schools. After the closing of forty-nine neighborhood schools were closed the white public needs to find a solution to another injustice on marginalized communities. This film seemed to aid that.
 Before the movie started I was handed a yellow slip of paper that posed the questions, "Are you for charters or against charters?" and "What value do you find in the School Project and what would you like to see in its future?" After the movie, and more so after the panel discussion, I was unable to answer the question. The movie and discussion focused more on the structure and politics of changing a public school into a charter. The film failed to talk about the education implications. After the film there was a panel of five people; a moderator from WTTW, a CPS board Member, a Legislative coordinator of Chicago Teachers Union, an Editor at Catalyst Chicago and the Superintendent of Noble Network of Charter Schools. No one seemed to agree on an issue that is occuring at charter schools. A discussion that should have been filled with compassion turned into a caucus of separated parties. The moderator failed to give meaningful questions.
Sorry for being so critical. The other films might be better.
Check them out at http://www.schoolprojectfilm.com