There’s lots for education journalists to learn from a parent’s description of what it was like participating in a recent education book.
By Bethany Smith
This is the latest in our ongoing series on refocusing education journalism on parents and children.
Earlier this year, Benjamin Herold’s book, “Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America’s Suburbs,” told the amazing, under-reported story of how Black and brown families seeking better schools for their children in the suburbs often fall prey to a slow-moving Ponzi scheme that leaves them and their kids in the lurch.
I was one of the main characters. I live in Penn Hills, a suburb outside of Pittsburgh, where Ben grew up. I am a mother, entrepreneur, problem solver, and woman whose faith is grounded in Jesus. I am a woman who strives to live in my purpose.
“Disillusioned” told parts of my life in the suburbs, among other things, alongside the stories of four other American suburban families.
Through the process of interviewing me and writing his book, Ben was challenged — and so was I. Through the experience, I was given the opportunity to write the book’s epilogue.
Now that the book has been published, I wanted to share what the book got right, how well it captured my experience, and what it’s like being the subject of a book like this.
I wanted to share what the book got right.
Overall, being depicted in the book and writing a part of it has been a rollercoaster.
In the beginning, the interviewing process was therapy. I was juggling so much, as I always do. I made the decision to remove my son from the charter school he was attending, dealing with the aftereffects of that situation. It was an emotional time, especially for my son.
Deciding to be a part of this book, in hindsight, is aligned with and introduced me to opportunities I actually saw in my future, but I did not know how I was going to fulfill. Better said, I didn’t know where to start.
I’ve had some memorable experiences since “Disillusioned” was released. It started with an event at the Free Library of Philadelphia. I was invited on stage to participate in a Q&A. I had recently read my epilogue at a virtual event presented by The Center for Experimental Ethnography at the University of Pennsylvania.
The event was a conversation with Ben and me, with Brooke O’Hara moderating it for the center’s Third Thursday series. This was memorable because we were able to discuss our experiences and takeaways from “Disillusioned” in a constructive way and hear the experiences from the folks that joined us on the call.
The fact that I am telling my story and folks are interested in knowing more is quite an experience. I am taking my time moving through all of this. I want to stay grounded in my faith and use discernment. It’s what leads me. I strive to stay focused on my purpose.
Since the book’s release, the reception has been positive. There is so much one can take away from the stories that are being told. I like that along with the topics discussed, readers are given insights into the identities, backgrounds, and characteristics of the people who are experiencing what we read about in the headlines of our go-to publications. This becomes more than a topic we all can relate to in one way or another. I hope we began to care a little more because of the backstories of the families that participated in the book. I hope more conversations can be had.
I am taking my time moving through all of this.
The opportunity to write the epilogue for the book transpired organically. I now realize the anomaly of the situation. As a source for the project, I shared parts of my life that fit into the subject of the book, and through the interviewing process an idea came about that there was a story to be told in my words from my point of view.
Sometimes information is better relayed straight from the source. Some things in life fall upon us in a nontraditional way, and we are faced with the opportunity to think outside the box. In this case, Ben seized the opportunity, and something special came from it.
I will admit there were times I felt exposed during the process. Ben’s professionalism, experience, and ability to listen and relate to the topics he covered brought comfort to the situation. This is something journalists can keep in mind when covering topics and stories of the folks that live the topic.
The beauty of this situation is that a point of view is shared by someone who isn’t a writer or journalist by trade but a person who is knowledgeable on this topic because they live it.
Sometimes information is better relayed straight from the source.
I shared with Ben (and now the world) some details and experiences I overcame in my life. Anecdotes that gave a glimpse into the makings of Bethany. I exposed parts of myself, things I should or could have kept to myself.
If there was something I said or texted that he didn’t understand or catch the meaning of, he asked for more of an explanation. That was a plus.
There are some lessons I took away from the process. I became a better communicator by expressing myself more clearly and concisely. I’ve learned the importance of choosing my words wisely and that speaking up for myself is and will always be a necessity.
It came to my attention that it is unusual for a journalist to extend the opportunity to a source to contribute to their overall project by writing something.
I was asked if this is something that journalists should consider when covering a story.
I say, if the opportunity presents itself, why not? Especially, if it helps the topic relate more to the audience, it can be a nice addition. As I mentioned before, when I met Ben, there wasn’t a thought on my end to contribute in any way outside of agreeing to be one of the families discussed in the of the story Ben strived to tell. This opportunity came about naturally through communication and divine intervention.
Let’s be clear. I was not paid as a source. I received compensation for contributing the essay I wrote that is the book’s epilogue.
There was a lot of back in forth between me and Ben. I did a lot of free writing and we pieced together my epilogue from the writings. Ben gave me prompts along with my free writing about what I was going through at the time. It was quite an experience. My gosh, it took about two years to present what you see as the finished product in “Disillusioned.” Yes, I was challenged. We all were challenged. Lol.
During the editing process, I had many phone sessions with a fact checker Ben hired for the manuscript and an editor who assisted with my epilogue. Ben was quite thorough with the process, and communication and transparency was always there.
Above: Book cover for “Disillusioned” and Bethany Smith
My story was told accurately due to the many editing and fact checking sessions I went through with veterans in the literary and journalism world. The book strived to be as accurate as possible. Ben made sure there was little room for accuracy to fall short. For that I am grateful.
During the fact checking process, it was emotional at times, discussing some of the traumas I shared in the book. I came to the realization that there were some things in my life that haven’t been processed up to that point. In the words from one of Langston Hughes’ poem, “Mother to Son,” Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
My participation in “Disillusioned” has not changed my life, but it sure does make my future much brighter. At the end of the day, this journalistic and literary world is a business. The next opportunity that comes my way, I would be more involved in the business.
Bethany Smith is an entrepreneur who champions public education through a fellowship with Education Voters of Pennsylvania. She helped author the critically acclaimed book “Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of America’s Suburbs,” which shares pieces of her life. She can be reached at smith_bethany9109@yahoo.com.
Previously from The Grade
Cul-de-sac of broken dreams: Admirable but flawed (Anya Kamenetz)
Scrutinizing suburbia, and myself (Benjamin Herold)
What parents really want
An open letter to education writers
Putting parents front and center
