About the Emerson Elementary School
Imagine a school without a library - an elementary school buzzing with energy and the desire to learn without the resources necessary for students to reach their potential. A public school where many of the students were born thousands of miles away and whose parents left their homes to give their kids a better educational opportunity.
The Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School (K-5) was a warm and welcoming learning environment in desperate need of a library collection and literacy resources. Emerson students relied only on small classroom bookshelves or mobile book shelves in the hallways. Many students came from Cape Verde, where they spoke Creole but read and write in Portuguese. Recently arrived students were expected to learn English as their third language and were still required to pass the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) even if they have been in the U.S. for less than a year. 90% of students received free or reduced lunches.
The Emerson School was located in Dudley Square in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. It was led by a caring and capable principle, Vivian Swoboda, who spoke of the need to put books and resources into the hands of her students. Lots of books in the lower grades and literacy support creates readers. Proficient and eager readers create lifelong learners.
School Closing
In 2010, the Boston Public School system closed ten schools, including Emerson. This was devastating to the large Cape Verdean community at the Emerson. Many of these students, new to this country, were learning English as a second or third language. Emerson offered them a safe, welcoming environment in which to learn. The students, unfortunately lost this benefit when Emerson closed.
We tried to make their final year the best possible for the students at Emerson, and we planned field trips and provided literacy resources. We also planned to follow some of the Emerson students to another Boston Public School in 2011, where we will assist that school with literacy and tutoring.
