Ep 7. If a School Is Broken, Can Kids Fix It?

If a School Is Broken, Can Kids Fix It? is the seventh episode of the eighteenth season of Nick News, a news program for young audiences created by Nickelodeon. The episode aired on February 18, 2018, and features an investigative piece about the student-led initiatives aiming to address problems in failing schools.

In this episode, Nick News correspondent Linda Ellerbee travels to some of the most underfunded and underperforming schools in the United States to speak with students, teachers, and administrators about the challenges they face. Ellerbee highlights some alarming statistics, such as the fact that nearly two-thirds of low-income fourth-graders are not reading at grade level and that black and Hispanic students are more likely than white students to attend high-poverty schools.

Despite these problems, Ellerbee finds that some students are taking an active role in improving their schools. She interviews organizers of student-led campaigns to increase funding, improve teacher quality, and address disciplinary policies that disproportionately affect minority students. Ellerbee notes that these initiatives are not easy, and some students encounter resistance from the school board or their peers. However, she emphasizes that young people's passion and creativity can make a significant difference in their communities.

The episode includes several stories of students who took action to address problems in their schools. For example, Ellerbee interviews a group of students from Detroit who organized a march to protest the shutting down of their school, which would have left them without a place to learn. Another segment focuses on a high school student in Philadelphia who created a database to track complaints about teacher quality and disciplinary policies. The database soon became an essential tool for parents and administrators to identify problem areas and work on solutions.

Ellerbee also speaks with some educators who support students' grassroots movements to improve their schools. She features a principal in New Orleans who actively encouraged her students to speak up about their dissatisfaction with the school's funding and equipment. The students organized a rally, and their voices were heard by the school board, which allocated more resources to the school.

The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of student activism and the potential for young people to change their schools and communities. Ellerbee notes that while student-led initiatives are not a panacea for all the problems in underfunded schools, they can inspire positive change and create a sense of empowerment among young people. She encourages viewers to get involved in their schools and communities and to use their voice to make a difference.

Overall, If a School Is Broken, Can Kids Fix It? is a thought-provoking and inspiring episode of Nick News that sheds light on the challenges faced by students in underfunded and failing schools. The episode highlights the potential of young people to create change and encourages viewers to take action in their communities.