Quotes like this, multiplied by 10,000 or more, are the compost in which
the current movement for urban school reform has been planted.
Penn's definitely playing a role in the current assault on rotten
inner-city public schools. -- but it's hardly the only player.
Basically, everybody is desperate to get some good news out of urban
public-school systems for the first time since the 1940s. While no sober
observer calls a victory in advance, we now see grounds for hope that
have been rare in my lifetime.
Low expectations are crucial to any explanation of the poor academic and
economic performance of urban Black kids in this generation.There is no
proven medicine for this -- no one set of "high expectations" that will
fill all these youths' problems and set them on their way. Clearly,
though, naysayers who keep drumming in that Black kids can't possibly
comprehend International Relations, are no friends to Black kids. Global
trade and international social contacts are the certain anchors of the
world they will grow old and die in. Why not teach them to be tomorrow's
winners instead of yesterday's losers?
Since something like a gazillion nations around the world are inhabited
largely by Black people, I bet West Philadelphian Blacks will
resoundingly reject the argument their children should avoid learning
about the world, solely because some people want them to live in a
ghetto and know nothing else.
-- Tony West
Actually, I think the remark demonstrates disturbingly low
expectations by this teacher.
Kimm
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
