Geoffrey Canada Reportedly First Choice for NYC Public School Chief

It has been reported that Geoffrey Canada, head of the Harlem Children's Zone, was the first choice to become Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools. Canada is well-respected for championing the cause of educating children from urban communities who've had their futures continuously sabotaged by public school systems across America.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly reached out to Canada before choosing Cathleen Black, a woman with 40-years of experience in fields that don't involve education. Bloomberg has been under fire for his decision, given that many were hoping that a minority with meaningful educational experience would be the one to lead a school district dominated by a black and brown presence.

Mayor Bloomberg has made things more difficult for himself by keeping the selection process secret. He hasn't disclosed the candidates who were considered, nor laid out clear criteria on which he based his decision. This has led to an uproar from some in the community who feel that their children were sold out in the process. James Mtume, an activist and radio show host, feels that the appointment of Black was about money. According to Mtume, "Black was appointed primarily because she is from the business community and can facilitate the contracts that allow the education system to be the new corporate cash cow."

Mtume is also not convinced that Canada was seriously considered for the position in the first place. "The news about Canada didn't come out until there was a community uproar about there not being a black or brown person considered for the job," he said. "You don't make the announcement four weeks later, after the heat is on, you tell people these things up front."

Geoffrey Canada would have had a great deal to offer as the head of New York City Schools. He holds a Masters Degree from Harvard University and takes an approach to education that involves mentorship from birth all the way through the day the child enters college. In my book, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College," I advocate for a similar approach, given that the entire village must work overtime in order for us to see the tremendous value that education provides in the lives of our children.

Canada is now 58-years-old, far from being at the end of his life's work. While he would have been a solid choice for Chancellor, he would have surely been criticized himself for being such a strong advocate of charter schools. Additionally, he loves to fire bad teachers, which doesn't sit well with unions who sometimes seem more concerned about protecting their jobs than protecting the lives of our youth. So, in other words, Canada would be a less-than-ideal candidate for the same reasons as Dr. Boyce Watkins (no, you'll never see me nominated as the head of any school district; I don't work hard to keep political friends, and I have an intense inability to tolerate B.S. for long periods of time. Life is too short for that).

One thing that's clear about the state of our public schools in New York City and across the country is that it's going to take tough, bold, no-nonsense leadership to make things right. With escalating drop-out rates for black and brown children, we must literally go to war with systems and individuals that are seeking to destroy the lives of our youth. While it might seem dramatic to tear down systems that undermine our kids' ability to be educated, one only needs to realize what's at stake: A child who remains uneducated is far more likely to spend their life in jails and prison, to be unemployed, or even be a victim of homicide (the leading cause of death for young black men, who are consistently at the bottom of nearly every measure of educational success). Given that the direct impact of missing education can be death, we must be willing to put everything on the line in order to save lives. There's no excuse for accepting the status quo.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.