Hey, remember back before everyone was busy writing responses to the latest administration PR blitz? Let's travel back to that land of a Few Days Ago, shall we, and look at some of what deserved reading this week.
Is Success Academy Fighting Inequality
A good look at SA's policy's and involvement in NY lobbying
As a Weapon in the Hands of the Restless Poor
This is a long form piece that originally ran in Harper's back in 1997. It's Earl Shorris writing about his launch of the Clemente Class project, and if you don't know about any of that, this is a good introduction. But it's also an answer to a fundamental question-- is there a point to teaching classical humanities to the poor (or anyone)?
Dear USD, Testing Disaster Is Yours
Don't miss Paul Thomas's take on the current kerfluffle, including a great reading list to put the whole testing biz into historical perspective.
Newark: The Day the Dream Died
Bob Braun takes a look, from right on the front lines, at how things are headed south in Newark. A bummer, but a necessary read.
Should Reading Be Taught in Kindergarten?
Reading expert Russ Walsh takes a look at this question and handles it with intelligence and balance, as always.
This Is What Has To Be Done
Jose Luis Vilson, as always an articulate advocate for both the positive and the challenging. A good positive note to end this week's list on.
Wow. I just read "As a Weapon in the Hands of the Restless Poor" for the first time. An amazing piece, and 17 years later, the truth of what he had to say is even more obvious. Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteYes, I loved the Earl Shorris article too. It made me cry, it's so beautiful. I remember reading something similar once in the AFT journal, though I don't know if it was the same project. I've always thought that if I had a school, it would be based on the History of Civilization, what we all have in common as Humans.
ReplyDelete"As s weapon in the hands of the poor" is a life-changing article for me. I am deeply grateful for this post.
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