On May 2, the Second Annual Ithaca Public Education Symposium brought together a panel of nine students from IHS, Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS), and New Roots Charter School to discuss their experiences with public education in Ithaca. The panel was hosted by Dr. Nia Nunn, an associate professor in Ithaca College’s Department of Education and the President of the Board Directors of the Southside Community Center.
The students on the panel answered various questions prompted by Dr. Nunn. They began by discussing factors that impacted their learning environment. Many students stressed the importance of forming personal connections with teachers and staff. One student at LACS stated that “school is for care” and described how fulfillment of personal needs can lead to greater educational success. Another student from New Roots described the community-based design of the school, emphasizing the importance of connections with peers in the school environment.
This led to conversations about experiences with different learning formats during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students highlighted the importance of in-person interactions and how online learning impacted relationships between teachers and students, often leading to feelings of isolation. Some panelists also touched on the benefits of online learning. They acknowledged that online learning allowed students to focus on their needs and mental health by providing beneficial flexibility to students with busy schedules. They underscored the importance of having options regarding their education.
Discussion continued as panelists were asked if they felt their secondary school education prepared them well for their future. The students expressed their wish to be taught more life skills, such as filing taxes or creating a resume. Many panelists also acknowledged the role of organizations outside of Ithaca public schools in preparing students, such as BOCES, Ithaca’s Youth Employment Service, and the Youth Entrepreneurship Market.
Another topic of dialogue was the New York State Education Department’s Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) program. The PLAN program would allow students to be evaluated on performance-based assessments to fulfill their graduation requirements instead of the traditional pathway of taking Regents exams. Performance-based assessments include capstone projects, research papers, artwork, and oral presentations. The reaction to this initiative from the panel was overwhelmingly positive, and students from LACS drew comparisons to their school’s Performance Based Assessment Tasks (PBATs). They pointed out how these projects offer a more authentic representation of a student’s personality and abilities than a test grade, allowing them to demonstrate their understanding of real-world concepts. Panelists believed these projects could generate passion and motivate students to dig deeper into a subject, which could help expand learning and understanding in the long term.
Students then contrasted mental health resources and opportunities for advocacy at their schools. The panelists recognized the importance of having conversations about current events. The students from New Roots and IHS acknowledged that there were no designated spaces at their schools for students to express their feelings and digest what was happening in the world and expressed their hope to create one.
The discussion’s final question regarded the aspects of education the panelists believed should change and others they wanted to keep. The students brought up how they hoped education would transform to prioritize the individual by tailoring instruction to individual students’ needs. They believed that this could increase academic success and graduation rates. When considering aspects to keep, students described the importance of community and bonding with peers, emphasizing the beauty of togetherness and sharing experiences, using school trips as a primary example.
The conversation during the symposium showed the strengths of public education in Ithaca but also acknowledged where it falls short. The discussion demonstrated the importance of youth voice and its pivotal role in creating change.
Panelists and Dr. Nia Nunn at the Ithaca Public Education Symposium. Cornelia Ye