One District of Columbia public school – Orr Elementary has generatedexcitement and opened dialogue with an unconventional video dispellingpervasive myths and countering negative stereotypes about youth in impoverishedurban settings in America.
Orr students and staff take an unorthodox approach to establish a positive school climate, build social, emotional and intellectual proficiency, and show the global community that the opposite prevails for mostyouth stigmatized by geographical location and schools with limited resources.
The video was financed by Orr’s continuous efforts to buildpartnerships with national and international entities to provide services andunrestricted funding to ensure all students learn what they need to be competent, productive adults in a highly competitive and globaleconomy.
Orr students are cognizant of the negative environmentalinfluences that are literally on their playground, which is shared with theentire community during the morning, afterschool and weekends. It’s one of the few places for neighborhood children and families to gather andplay.
The rap lyrics depict how awesome students feel aboutthemselves, their school, parents, teachers and more. In the video, a fourthgrader raps:
“Proficiency doesn’t happen mysteriously – we take math andreading very seriously. Like a dinosaur we study hard core – when we step through thedoor we get challenged more.”
Orr students know education will break the cycle of poverty andunemployment that ravishes the community in Ward 8 – less than four miles fromthe White House. Ward 8 which has the highest unemployment rate in the nationaccording to Bloomberg.com.
Regardless of budget cuts and environmental factors, Orr staffhas a slogan: “We do whatever it takes!” Visit http://www.orrelementary.org to learn more and check out www.11408.org to learn more on this great mentoring organization.
