Conversation: Where Is Our Superman?

Sometimes a little coffee and conversation is enough to get the ball rolling.

Especially since Superman isn't on his way to scoop us out of the situations we would all like answers to.

That's why neighbors and politicians gathered Sept. 5 at Mount Rainier's Spotlight Café for Conversations in the Corridor about the Prince George's County school system.

"What can we do because we don't have a Superman," moderator Candace Hollingsworth asked the small group of mostly parents.

The weekly event is sponsored by Hyattsville Now, a blog that Hollingsworth runs to keep residents aware of happenings in the city and throughout the area.

Tuesday's topic was the new documentary "Waiting For Superman," for which Michelle Rhee, chancellor of Washington, D.C. schools, was interviewed.

Mount Rainier resident Julie Barnet said she thinks students are tested too much and that they are only being "taught to the test."

"[We should be] turning out kids who are quiet and docile … to raise their voices and change the way things are going," she said, adding that just teaching children what they need to know to pass a test won't necessarily help them in the long run.

"It doesn't get the … real picture of the child," said Hyattsville resident Robert Croslin.

Aimee Olivo, candidate for the county school board's district 4, said teachers, as well as whole communities need to step up and take responsibility for the education of America's children.

After all, there's only so much that teachers – who are sometimes forced to work without all the resources they need – can do.

"We're waiting on the teachers and administrators, not [realizing] that they're humans," said Amber Waller, an at-large school board member.

And Rachel Audi, a Cheverly resident who is running for the 47th District of the state House of Delegates, said parents and neighbors need to make their voices heard at the political level.

"We talk about problems but somewhere there is a behavior and a decision that caused that  [problem]," said Mount Rainier resident Michelle Lee.

The next Conversations in the Corridor will be held on Oct. 12 at 5:30.