Braun: Let ‘invisible’ Newark students help save their troubled schools

By Bob Braun/Star-Ledger Columnist

NEWARK — They are faceless, voiceless. Often portrayed as victims or, worse, incompetents, young people on whom the treasure of the state is wasted because, historically, they have been thought of as failures. Politicians of all stripes exploit their problems or blame them. And, of course, everybody but everybody in public life claims they are the only reason to embrace this agenda and that “reform.”

They are the school children of Newark. Rarely do they have the opportunity to be heard about the conditions of their schools. But, the other day on the Rutgers campus, a half-dozen of these children presented papers on educational reform.

This was the effort of a number of people and groups but mostly of Brent Farrand of South Orange, the executive director of the Jersey Urban Debate League — one of the most successful debate coaches in the nation. His Newark teams have won national and state championships.

“You often are invisible,” he told nearly 100 students who attended what was billed as the first Newark Student Conference on Education Reform. “No one really sees who you are — but it’s time to let policy makers hear your voice.”

Farrand retired from the Newark schools two years ago after a 30-year career but he remains active with the league. At this conference, six Newark students were chosen to present and defend their ideas for improving education. Some were extraordinary.

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