First Impression

After getting lost in Northeast Washington, Kat, Katie and I arrived at Potomac Lighthouse Charter. Set in a church, the school is small and colorful filled with the student art and posters. We where greet by the principle who introduced himself and after all the paper work was finished, began to show us around the school. As we passed from grade to grade it was more and more revealing of how small the school was. And every time we entered a class the principle would introduce us to the teacher, but surprisingly he also seem to know most of the students by name sending them a smile or a word of encouragement. It was amazing to see that all the students where called by name, not hey, yea you, young lady or young man. This was the standard not the exception in how students where treated. The students seem to respond to this by being well mannered and well behaved much better than students at the traditional public school. It was hard not to notice that the school was predominantly African American. The statistics came running back in my head about how the majority of charter school where notoriously segregated. The tour ended and I could not help but feel happy to see these students in an environment where people cared about them and that structure existed for these students who often lack normality. Although, We did not have any insight into the academic quality of Potomac Lighthouse, at least an environment of learning did exist.