Hope Comes To Douglas
“Runners to your mark, get set”, the announcer’s voice is interrupted as the gun fires to signify the start of the
400m. The 400m is the last event of the Tri‐City Track Meet; and for the first time in twenty‐two years, Fredrick Douglas High School is competing in the Tri‐City Track Meet. Fredrick Douglas High School (FDHS) is a poor, inner‐city school that has, in the last thirteen years, carried the reputation of being a failing school due to low
academic performance, violence within the school and low graduation rates. The fact that they are competing this year, marks a vast improvement, not only in their track team’s talent, but in the overall morale, peer relations and display of sportsmanship at the school. Previously, the students of FDHS were known for their poor attitudes, disrespectful behaviors, low self‐esteem and unsportsmanlike behavior. However, this year is different, primarily due to one man’s determination to make a difference, not only in FDHS’ image, but in the lives of every FDHS student.
It all started near the end of the previous school year, when Governor George Doubt declared that Fredrick Douglas High School had to be reconstituted, which meant that everyone had to be fired and a new educational strategy had to be implemented. Accordingly, in an effort to transform the school, the Superintendent, John Faith made an extremely controversial and unpopular decision to hire a school transformer by the name of Karl Hope.
Karl Hope was an outspoken school leader that often went against the status quo. In his last assignment as
school administrator, he went head‐to‐head against the union president because of their inability to support his efforts to eliminate ineffective teachers in his building. This led to a heated, verbal altercation between the union president and Hope during a televised board meeting.
Hope’s display of passion and zeal was not reserved for administrators and staff; but the students often were targets as well. The city still remembered, in disbelief, how Hope refused to allow the boys basketball team, at his previous school, to participate in the State Finals due to their poor grades. These and many other incidents resulted in Karl Hope having the reputation of being an educational “bad” boy. It was, however, his reputation that appealed to the superintendent; for, FDHS needed a
change and Mr. Hope was just the man to bring change. So
Faith hired Hope.
One of the first initiatives was to clean house. For
Hope knew that the cycle of death and life is the essence
of change. Hope firmly believed that in order to effectively bring about change, all associated with the old regime had to be eradicated. So on July 4th, Karl Hope gave birth to a new Fredrick Douglas High School – he fired the entire staff.
It made the front page paper of the Tri‐City Times:
“Hope has come to Douglas”. In response to Hope’s drastic actions, there were numerous teacher protests. The community’s confidence in Faith’s choice was tested as the media scrutinized Mr. Hope’s decision. As the media reported other past controversial decisions that were
made by Hope at other schools, a reoccurring question echoed in the educational world: “Would Hope fail?”
Hope ignored the media hype and continued to be proactive. He focused on the assignment Faith had given him ‐ to transform the school. Mr. Hope went to work by visiting every college and university in the state, in an effort to find a dedicated, qualified and passionate staff. He was determined to configure a team that believed in his vision of delivering a quality education for FDHS students. Hope conducted hundreds of interviews from teachers, coaches, cafeteria workers and custodians. He wanted to be sure that the students at FDHS had the finest group teachers and staff in the area; teachers and staff that would confront the challenge of transforming the school with optimism. Finally, after seemingly endless interviews, Mr. Hope selected his dream team.
Hope, confident that he was ready for the upcoming school year, submitted to the superintendent the staff roster. To his surprise, he was given disappointing enrollment numbers for FDHS in exchange. The school’s enrollment was three hundred students below last year’s enrollment number. The superintendent warned him that if he did not increase the school’s enrollment, the school would close. Mr. Hope was frustrated and upset. He felt that Faith had misled him by failing to inform him that the schools had low enrollment numbers. Hope was under the impression that the only pressing school issue was that of transforming the school. Enrollment was a completely different obstacle to tackle, one whose outcome was not necessarily in his control. Now faced with the threat of FDHS closing, Hope was distressed; after all, he had promised sixty-six teachers and staff members a job. Moreover, he himself had taken a risk by leaving his comfortable past position at another school.
Mr. Hope spent countless hours in prayer and meditation. When his mind was clear of all worry, doubt and unbelief, his Spirit was renewed and inspired to act. He implemented a program called “Beat the Street”. He and his Assistant Principal went door to door, meeting students and parents. He compelled them to give the new school a try. Hope held news conferences and open forums through which he inspired many with his new vision for Fredrick Douglas High School.
August 25: Can Hope Deliver
Mr. Hope gave a profoundly moving speech to the FDHS,
parents and teachers:
A brave new world of opportunity awaits us, provided that our youngsters are adequately prepared. Even with the uncertainty of labor markets and our economy, our children are competing in a global market where the prize of success and economic stability is open to every individual who would dare to prepare? We as educators and parents must equip them with the skills needed to succeed in such a world. Like it or not, capitalism today is unforgiving and shows little mercy for the ill prepared and the un‐educated.
Our student’s determination and ability to prevail in the global market tomorrow, is based on our ability to impose higher academic standards on our students today. Tough love is no longer an option;
it is the only course of action! Our student’s lives are at stake.
We as educators and parents must form an alliance; supporting each other like never before by sharing resources and information. As co‐laborers, we must agree to form an allegiance against the threats of gang violence, drug abuse, teen pregnancy, truancy and illiteracy that plagues are youth. We must be co‐laborers together in the effort to enforce the mandate that all students will be present, attentive, and prepared. We can no longer fear holding our children to high academic expectations. For if we dare falter, our students with less personal resolve, will never attain a high school diploma and will create a new generation of
under-skilled labor. We as co‐laborers can no longer be passive in our students’ pursuit of achievement. We must be proactive at every educational level to ensure that No Child Left Behind, as optimistic as it might seem, can in fact be actualized.
There's no cheap way to educate a child. There are no quick fixes to ensure the success of our children. In many cases, quick fixes do more harm than good. We, as co‐laborers, must fearlessly accept the task of educating or students effectively and efficiently, while being able to demonstrate patience and composure in the midst of adversity.
We must be the catalyst that fuels the torch for change in our students. So, as we embark on another school year, this is my prayer for us all:
that our future be worthy of our dreams. Thank you and God bless you!
The crowd of teachers, parents and media all stood in amazement as Mr. Hope executed, what seemed like, a keynote address. The news headlines read: “Can Hope Deliver?”
September 5: Truth Had Hope
The first day of school, Mr. Hope had all the students report to the auditorium. Each student was personally greeted by each staff member, including custodian