I don't question this statement of fact, I just want to move beyond acceptance to a new reality. If we persist in reacting and responding, as opposed to becoming proactive, we will have reneged on our responsibility as role models and leaders of our students. We talk about students being disconnected and disinterested in our curriculum, in structured school activities, in their own futures. We wonder why so many of our students are apathetic. We pose a multitude of reasons to explain away our lack of community, their lack of ownership.
Some people think the kids feel disconnected because they live far away.
There's no question that it's easier to be involved when the school's in your neighborhood, but lots of kids travel long distances to schools that are very much their own. My daughter was a subway and a bus ride away from her middle school, but the whole population commuted. They chose to be there. I attended my assigned high school, but after riding three buses to get there, it was very much my school. However, in both of our school experiences, there were other students who didn't feel that sense of ownership, and they were often students of color.