I missed the transition to when it was announced that South Africa had actually made it into the world cup championship. So I continued to watch the game, but when the last game was played and they brought out the giant, gold trophy, I felt a bit let down, because I had been expecting the movie to continue! I thought that they had only made it to the finals, at that point. I was sorely disappointed that I’d missed the opportunity to build up my excitement to the fullest potential.
I thought about this, as I read a few bios about some great figures with humble beginnings and thought about my students. Part of the reason why urban education is so exciting is because it’s that great build up and challenge. Everyone expected me to attend college, and getting into Harvard wasn’t even that big of a deal in my family (my older sister had also attended, and my parents both attended Columbia). Since college, I’ve had some good, solid performances, but nothing spectacular. So, when I think about education reform, I understand that what excites and grips the country is the anticipation held by “definites” as they watch and help a clutch of “maybes.”
My DC students were thrilled with graduating high school, let alone getting into any college. I remember celebrating community college, ASVAB scores, POSSE scholarships, and countless other achievements with more enthusiasm than I’d remembered possessing when I went to visit Harvard’s campus for Pre-Frosh Weekend. And when I look at the leaders of the education reform movement, they speak in similar tune. Sometimes more snobbily, but we are all very enthralled with upward mobility of the disadvantaged.
My question is: when the bottom is less low, and the achievement gap closed, where will the education reform movement go? Will we continue to improve the American educational system, overall? It seems a bit of balance might be more important than the irrational exuberance displayed by our many vociferous advocates. Perhaps that is some of what all the conflict and clamoring with traditional educators is really about.
