E. Christopher Jackson

Guest columnist

E. Christopher Jackson is senior pastor of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church.

What would it take to solve the problems in the Metro Nashville Public Schools system? Who has the solution for raising grades, stopping violence and erasing poverty? How convenient it is to blame one person for all of Nashville’s school woes.

The National Education Association lists these factors facing America’s public schools: Class size, family problems, tech distractions, student behavior, parental involvement, physical health and underfunding. These are not just Nashville issues but national issues.

Every school environment is a microcosmic reflection of the city’s makeup. As long as there are students in broken families, that same brokenness will be transported to schools.

Some school board members are uncivil and immature

People who speak more than listen and criticize more than working for change usually care more about themselves than those they claim to represent. A vocal minority on the school board and in the community regularly act worse than some of the students. The incivility and immaturity are astounding.

Perhaps they need a time out. Before complaining about low teacher morale, they should ask, “Am I doing anything to raise teacher morale? Am I actively working to create an environment conducive for student learning? Or is my unhelpful negative energy adding to the collective concoction of toxic fumes casting a cloud over the educational atmosphere?”

Those who truly love students would not speak and act so selfishly. Thank God for the majority of the school board and community who act like grownups.

With Nashville’s history of contention surrounding education, and the current bruised eye we have in the national media, we will be hard pressed to find a highly qualified applicant when Director of Schools Shawn Joseph leaves the MNPS drama.

It is a testament to his character and love for students that he has stayed this long in the face of mean-spirited opposition and juvenile distractions.

Keep the focus on the big picture

Some in the news media seem to never tire of targeting Dr. Joseph through the use of sensational journalistic tactics and editorial bias in overhyped news stories with leading questions used to manipulate those interviewed.

Please don’t presume to diagnose the black community. The real division in Nashville is not between blacks and whites, or blacks and blacks, but between selfish and unselfish.

It’s between the small-minded and those who see the big picture. Those who see the big picture get big results. Those who see the small picture get small results.

Nashville, please stop expecting a lone ranger to ride into town on a white horse and fix all our problems with one shot of a silver bullet. There is no quick fix.

The social problems in our nation, our city and our school system are all systemic and cannot be repaired with the stroke of a pen. Dr. Joseph and his team have made significant strides but so much more could still be accomplished through a collective community effort.

Let us all take our focus off of our own personal agendas and onto the stellar success of our Nashville students.

E. Christopher Jackson is senior pastor of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church.