Ep 15. Fast Times at West Philly High

In season 30, episode 15 of Frontline titled Fast Times at West Philly High, viewers are taken on a journey to West Philadelphia High School where a new principal, Saliyah Cruz, has been appointed with the daunting task of transforming the failing school. Her approach? To give students more agency and responsibility in their own education.

Through interviews with Cruz, teachers, and students, viewers learn that one of the biggest challenges at West Philadelphia High School is a lack of engagement from students. Many students come from low-income families and have experienced trauma in their lives, leading to low motivation and high absenteeism. Cruz believed that one solution was to create more opportunities for students to take ownership of their education and to feel a sense of purpose and pride in their work.

One way Cruz aimed to do this was by introducing a program called Inquiry Schools, which was designed to put students at the center of their own learning. Instead of sitting in traditional lectures, students were given projects to work on in groups and were encouraged to ask questions and seek out answers on their own. The program also emphasized hands-on learning, with students working on projects like designing a solar-powered car and building a rain garden on campus.

As the episode progresses, viewers see just how transformative the Inquiry Schools program is for some students. One student, Shaqir, is passionate about engineering and loves being able to work on projects that challenge him and allow him to apply what he's learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Another student, Tyshawn, has struggled in traditional classrooms but thrives in the Inquiry Schools program where he can work collaboratively with his peers and build his confidence.

However, the program isn't without its challenges. Teachers admit that they often struggle to give up control and allow students to work independently, and some students are hesitant to take on more responsibility when they've been conditioned to rely on teachers to tell them what to do. Additionally, the program's success relies on adequate funding and resources, which can be difficult to come by in a school with such limited resources.

Throughout the episode, viewers also learn about other challenges facing West Philadelphia High School, such as a high teacher turnover rate and issues with violence in the surrounding community. But despite these challenges, Cruz remains optimistic about the power of education to transform students' lives.

Overall, Fast Times at West Philly High is a thought-provoking look at the ways in which traditional education systems can fail some students and the importance of creating opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning. Through the eyes of students and teachers, viewers see the transformative potential of programs like Inquiry Schools and the impact that a dedicated principal can have on a struggling school.