The documentary, Most Likely to Succeed (2005), explores the historical background of today’s current public education system and uses High Tec High Charter School to illustrate a new future for American Education. Albert Shanker saw charter schools as an approach to discover new and successful teaching mechanisms that pushed up against the education norms of public schools (Kahlenberg & Potter, 2015). As the documentary points out, much of today’s teaching norms were based on an industrial model of education established centuries ago. Today, the same curriculum, created by the Committee of 10, is still utilized to determine which subjects students should master at specific grade levels (Whiteley et al., 2015). High Tec High, a charter school in San Diego, California, is the model school utilized by the documentary to promote new education models with promise. High Tec High uses a project-based classroom model, which shift the focus from a teacher-centered to a student-centered classroom. Collaboration between teachers of various subjects and a final term project, helps students answer “When am I ever going to use this? [information]”.
The documentary follows the story of two different groups of students and how they engage with the same information. The image above symphonizes the collaboration that occurs both between educators of different academic subjects (Whiteley et al., 2015, 25:04). At High Tec High, the rigid class schedule and bell system seen in most public schools is tossed out, and students mix subjects throughout the day. One group develops a play while another constructs a system of gears and levers that all move together. Each group of students uses the same curriculum to develop different final products (Whiteley et al., 2015, 1:26:30 & 1:05:30). The producers use these clips and images to portray strong student engagement, commitment, success, and growth while using this teaching mechanism. Larry Rosenstock, CEO of High Tec High, describes the power of the project based classroom as one of the most transformative forms of education. He equates making something that wasn’t there before, like the students in the documentary do, to be one of the most satisfying feelings for both students and adults alike (Whiteley et al., 2015).
Most Likely to Succeed, provides a powerful image of what modern education could look like in the United States. It is a charter school that puts student interest and engagement first, and looks to teach the information and “soft skills” that employers are looking for. Kahlenberg and Potter (2015), would agree that High Tec High is striving to meet Shanker’s vision of a school that provides “their teachers with strong voices, and that the schools educated kids from all walks of life” (Kahlenberg & Potter, 2015, p. 6). Teachers have complete autonomy in the classroom as long as they continue to meet school standards and goals. High Tec High works to get students from throughout the San Diego area, but they are definitely still falling short of the goal (“California Department of Education”, 2017). The school focuses on teacher voice, by building a school climate where teachers have autonomy, collaboration and accountability for each other, and increased student engagement within the classroom (Kahlenberg & Potter, 2015, p. 6-7).
This documentary provides hope for parents who are fighting for the best education they can get their students. Throughout Most Likely to Succeed, parent concern about the effectiveness is brought up; however, statistics about student achievement is never actually addressed. This brings up one of the major gaps in the documentary and takes away from its credibility. When looking at the SARC Report for High Tec High during the 2015-2016 school report, student achievement in many areas are barely above district and statewide standards. Achievement gaps exist between White/Asian and African American/Latino students, and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (“California Department of Education”, 2017). Although High Tec High provides some promising new educational tools, long term statistics will need to be evaluated before confirming its effectiveness within the educational community.
References:
California Department of Education. (2017). School Accountability Report Card: High Tec High, 2015-2016 School Year. Retrieved from: https://www.hightechhigh.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HTH-SARC-2017.pdf
Kahlenberg, R. D. & Potter, H. (2015). Restoring Shanker’s vision for charter schools. American Educator, 38(4), 4-13.
Whiteley, G., Leibowitz, A., Ridley, A. & Lombroso D. (Producers), Whiteley G. (Director). (2015). Most Likely to succeed. United States: One Potato Productions.