The Cornerstone of Freedom

The Cornerstone of Freedom

The fight to save Forestville High School

By

Sengbe Ben Yosef

One of the cornerstones of a free nation should be the proper education of its children. In America, it seems that the education of some children is valued over the education of others. Many like to say that the black and brown community is always playing the race card on every issue, but in many cases, our communities are only playing the cards that we have been dealt. I do not see education as a race issue. I see it as a fundamental right for all citizens without regard to race, creed, or color.

With that said, one cannot overlook certain historical facts about race and education in our country. America has a history of sabotaging and under funding schools that have a core student population of black and brown children. Many years the education system has purposely underfunded schools in the black and brown communities, a tradition that seems to be still here sadly. All over this country, this phenomena, continues even though our government claims that such practices have long since been eliminated in America; however, for those of us on the ground, we know that this is not the case.

Schools in the black and brown communities seem to be on the hit list of some unforeseen force that doesn’t want productive schools in our neighborhoods. One such school that has come under attack recently is Forestville High School located in Prince Georges County, Maryland. This school has been scheduled to close at the end of the school year.  It is a part of a broader plan set forth by the P.G. County government,  along with PGCPS at the bequest of a County hired consultant firm.

The larger plan is to close twenty-nine (29) schools by 2035 according to the “Washington Post” newspaper reports. I can’t help but wonder if the people making the decisions for the residents of Prince Georges County have any vested interest in what happens in the County school system. Why is it always left up to outsiders, i.e., consultants, education experts, etc. to make plans for schools in our districts?

The plan seems to follow the same pattern in our communities. First, they play games with the school districts to offset the true numbers of children that actually live in the district and attend schools in the region.  This is done so that the powers can isolate their targets and soften them up for the kill. Then like clockwork, they under fund those schools identified by the consultants to create a problem where there didn’t have to be one. In the case of Forestville High they did all these things, and even went a step further. They removed the schools military academy, which was the first of its kind in the State of Maryland. According to school advocates, the military academy was a great success and it added value to Forestville High School and the PGCPS system a value that can't be replaced.

This action cut student enrollment, which some parents and alumni say helped to put Forestville High School on the chopping block.   Members of the school’s alumni association have made similar points and have been outspoken about their views on these issues.  At a county school board meeting on February 4, 2016, members of the alumni addressed the board about their concerns, and the education of children in Forestville, Maryland.  But how often have you heard that black and brown people don’t care about the schools in their community? This show of support by the Forestville High Alumni should dispel that myth.

Many people in the community have spoken out and one of those critics of the school board calling for the closing of Forestville has been Kimberly Harley, a longtime resident of Prince Georges County, and alum of the Forestville High School. Ms. Harley and many of her family members have attended Forestville High School, so for people like her, the closing of Forestville High School would be like cutting out a part of their family history.  Nothing preserves a community like family history and the pride that comes with being able to say I grew up on this block and I went to that school. These are the things that make a community whole and worth living in. At the school board meeting, Ms. Harley and others spoke to the school board and the following is some of what Ms. Harley and her fellow alumni had to say:

Ms. Harley spoke to the board for maybe three (3) minutes, but I believe the things she said summed up what school should mean to people and the community at large. Her words brought attention to the real reasons the school should be preserved for generations to come. Kimberly Harley is a shining example of what good schools produce. Kimberly said, “The school has produced doctors, lawyers, politicians, and yes, even P.G. County board members”. She explained to the board her concerns about the military academy being removed and how it has affected the school enrollment. Kimberly also stated, “The school had problems in the past but the school, its students, faculty, parents, and alumni have all helped the school to overcome those issues". Ms. Harley indicated that the school is still a valued part of the community and the lives of the people living in the surrounding areas.

Now, my friends, it is up to you to act. The residents of the Forestville High School community need your help. Together we can make a difference. We can save this landmark High School and its students past, present, and future. Join Kimberly Harley the parents and educators in their fight to save education in their school district. Forestville High School and Forestville Military Academy are pillars in our community, the cornerstones and foundations of all we hold dear in our lives. We should not deny a single child the opportunity to experience all that Forestville High has to offer.

Education is fundamental human right and no one should be denied access to a quality education in their own community. Forestville High School/Forestville Military Academy has so much to offer right now, the school has a nationally ranked girls’ basketball team, nationally ranked Drill Team, County and State ranking Dancers, Football & Basketball organizations. As we speak, the school is still making history and shouldn’t we work to safeguard that history? Friends we have no time to waste we must act now. Please come out and support the Forestville Knights at the next board meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2016, check the school board site for correct times and details.

Save a school and stabilize a community.