"I've got to say Gary I'm impressed. But when I was here there was such a nice dance hall. I got the French Quarter's Preservation Council to twist the arm of the school board so we could add the wing without changing the exterior," the Councilwoman remarks.
There are six of us helping to organize the kick-off celebration for McDonogh's 75th school year and no one is taking the matter lightly. With misty eyes and a forlorn look Lucianne Carmichael drifts through corridors and around rooms as if she were never Principal of the famous "Little Red School" for over ten years. "How long has it been since you've been in the building," I ask. Lucianne smiles and says "Well, not since I left as principal in 1985. This is the first time I felt it was safe for us to re-unite." Puzzled by the raw emotion bubbling beneath her expression, I chose not to press the issue.
McDonogh 15's legacy is one of community involvment and artistic expression, proven in part by its star-studded alumni: the Marsalis family, Trombone Shorty and all other manner of regional celebrity. A week and a half into my stay in New Orleans and I'm taking a tour with politicians, notable alums and three ex-principals who transformed McDonogh 15 into the most renowned public school in the entire city. No wonder there was an akward pause as current principal Gary Robichaux introduced me to a staff member, "And this is Gill, well he's not a principal but he's here to help."
I hope so. But after my first week I realize that "helping out" can be wrapped up in board politics and residential issues tighter than the kudzu vines suffocating trees all along southern highways. Every organization, planning committee, political infrastracture and citizen group are so wary of the surrounding landmines that most of the actual work of improving New Orleans gets shelved as secondary. Yet I digress, there will be a future posting attempting to clarify the rebuilding process. This posting is about the future, the kids.
The hallways of McDonogh 15 are unlike any school I've seen. If ever there was a model of running a tight ship this is the place. As our tour took us to the third floor, two classrooms burst into boast wars:
Teacher 1: "When is the best math class in the world going to College."
Class 1: "We're going in 2011."
Teacher 2: "Who's the best math class and when are you going to college?"
Class 2: "Gold Team 7th grade is the best math class and we're going to college in 2012!!!"
The enthusiasm is overwhelming. In other classes children are squirming in their seats, hands flailing high in the air to be called. Hallway walls are plastered with giant crossword puzzles and inspirational messages ("Discipline, Desire and Dedication") which can be admired as you walk along the floor's purple line. In most schools there are always some straggelers around the hall sipping on the fountain to whitle away the day. Not here. Every child seemed involved and engaged.
Jonathan Bertsch, assistant principal and co-ordinator of the 75th Commemoration, narrates our tour with pride streaking across his eyes. "McDonogh along with the KIPP program has extra Saturday classes for those testing two grades below their level and extra hours. We try and use our money in the places which will put kids first. We include the students on what they want to learn so that they have fun at school." McDonogh 15 is known as an educational institution where all stakeholders are invited to submit their suggestions. Councilwoman Cynthia is adamant about this point, McDonogh's Philosophy: "It is about education. Bring all the kids, parents, teachers, and neighboring residents to chip in their two cents." Now, Gill Benedek a two week resident of New Orleans, gets to add his.
