The Lottery, A New Documentary Shows that NYC's Children's Future Left Up to Luck

A new documentary, The Lottery, chronicles the journey of four New York City families trying to break free of the public school shackles by vying for one of 475 charter school slots.

A new documentary, entitled The Lottery, will premier in Washington DC tomorrow. The film is based on the Harlem charter school lottery, which is essentially a "stroke of luck" process to determine who of the thousands of New York City kids vying for one of 475 charter school slots. The film tells the story of four New York families who hope to break free from the shackles of New York City public schools to increase the chances that their children will succeed in all their educational endeavors.

In "The Lottery," we are introduced to Eric Roachford, who, like his father, works as a bus driver. As an MTA employee, Mr. Roachford is a "union man, but at the same time, we want our child to learn." He believes that going to college "is the difference between a job and a career." That's why his wife, Shawna, has taken time off to home school their two young sons.

Nadiyah Horne, a single mother who is also deaf, is raising 5-year-old Ammenah. "If others don't like this school, I don't care," she says, using sign language. "I want my child to get the best education." So does Emil Yoanson, who is raising his son Christian alone, and who prays to God that his name will be drawn.

"Being a single mom is very, very hard" says Laurie Brown-Goodwine, who has applied to several charters for her son, Gregory Jr. Her husband is serving 25 years to life in prison for a third-strike felony.

These are parents who don't have the means to move to a richer neighborhood with better public schools, so instead they have to rely on luck. When demand for a charter school exceeds supply, the random drawing is required by law. Some schools inform parents by mail, but Harlem Success holds a public lottery. "Harlem Success is very explicit about why they do it," Ms. Sackler says. They want to show demand. "I've heard them say to parents 'We hope that you'll come and show that this is something that you want. Because if you don't, we're not going to get more schools.'" Source: Wall Street Journal

It is a shame that we have students going to school in America and still can't pass a state exam. There is a serious crisis in education today and parents have to take a stand and say "I want better for my kids." The reality is that public schools in predominantly black and Hispanic communities are struggling to educate the students and grapple with high drop-out rates, while the experience is the opposite in the public schools in the suburbs. It is time for all parents to take a stand.

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