Friendship Students Stunned, but Easily Defeat Woodson 46-6

Photo by Darrow Montgomery

Mayor Gray is right. “H.D. Woodson is symbolic of how [the City has] leveraged local and federal dollars to move our city forward” H.D. Woodson's new building is a three-story structure with a strong central entrance flanked by lower side wings housing major assembly spaces. A sky-lit atrium with dramatic open stairs floods the building’s core with natural light, links each floor level and serves as the primary student access to educational spaces. Projecting glass bays and a soaring roof overhang form the backdrop for an exterior pedestrian plaza and student gathering space. Extensive new site development includes a football stadium with bleachers, locker rooms, ticketing and concessions buildings as well as tennis courts, a softball field, practice fields and connections to the newly opened Marvin Gaye Park.

The Knights were understandably overcome by the grandeur of the facilities. Friendship Football team is known by City paper readers as the Nation's Best Football Team That Uses a Storage Bin as a Locker Room. There are no showers, no playing field and no bleachers. The Knights practice on a sand lot and every contest is an "away game." Despite the disadvantages, the Knights often travel, take on the nation's toughest teams, appeared on ESPN and have lost only one game, to a very tough Bergen Catholic squad in New Jersey.

After a scoreless first quarter, in the game that is now commonly called, "The Real Turkey Bowl," the Warriors struck first, against the stunned Knights, when Ivell Washington scored on a one-yard play.

That would be the only score the Knight's defense would surrender, as it gave up only 199 yards and eight first downs while forcing four turnovers. And, with the running of Albert Reid, that was more than enough of a defensive effort.

Woodson belongs to the DCIAA, the traditional public school athletic league. At one time, Friendship wanted to join DCIAA, but was denied entry by DC Public Schools officials, who don't want to open up their competitions, including the Turkey Bowl football game, to charters.

Unfortunately the Friendship vs. Woodson, match up crushes the credibility of the Turkey Bowl, and puts pressure on the City to follow the intent of the law. By law, Friendship has open admissions, yet manages to be among the best academically. The City should open the football championship, and fairness in funding, to public charters students. The facilities are within walking distance of each other. Take the walk, or drive, and try to imagine what hard working charter students think about fairness and equality in D.C. education.

= = = Friendship Public Charter School is the District of Columbia’s largest community of public charter schools, serving nearly 4,000 students in grades pre-k to 12. Friendship succeeds in preparing a cross-section of children as scholars, workers and citizens on six school campuses. The mission of Friendship Public Charter School is to provide a world-class education that motivates students to achieve academic standards, enjoy learning and develop as ethical, literate, well-rounded and self-sufficient citizens that contribute actively to their communities. To learn more about Friendship Public Charter Schools go to:http://www.friendshipschools.org/home/content.asp?section=our%20schools