"Waiting for Superman," Davis Guggenheim's controversial film looking at the challenges facing public education in this country, will premiere in Buffalo at 7 p.m. Friday at the Amherst Dipson Theatre.
Tickets are available for $5 from the charter advocacy folks at Buffalo ReformED by calling 759-4698. Sorry, tickets for this showing are sold out. Check with the theater for other show times.
After the film, a panel discussion about school reform will feature Buffalo Superintendent James A. Williams; Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore; Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a champion of charters; Keith Frome, an administrator at King Center Charter School; and Joy McDuffie, who is active with dropout prevention efforts in Buffalo.
Yours truly has been asked to moderate the panel discussion. The film is widely considered to be heavily biased in favor of charter schools -- but the goal of the panel discussion is to give each of the panelists an equal chance to share their thoughts. This seems like a valuable opportunity to have a substantive dialogue about local issues in school reform, with some of the key players.
Following the lead of my colleague, Bob McCarthy, I'm asking my readers for input. Do you have a question you'd like to hear the answers to? (Could be a question for all five panelists, or a question tailored specifically for one of them.)
Any and all suggestions will be appreciated and considered. Share your question in a comment below, or e-mail me privately at mpasciak@buffnews.com.
