From the Washington Post's Answer Sheet blog we learn that Washington's mayor-to-be, Vincent Gray, ?believes a student's family life is at least as important? as the quality of that student's teacher and has ?questioned whether kids can properly be judged by a test score if they come to school sick or hungry.? It's fine to think that pupils should sprout from supportive families and be fed balanced and bountiful meals and pay regular visits to the doctor. But in ed-policy land, Gray's words too often mean that expectations for pupils will be lowered while we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait for shattered families to assemble, for organic oases to appear in food desserts, for every youngster to get the basic medical care he requires and deserves.
Also, in the same blog post, Valerie Strauss writes:
There is no reason to doubt that both sides want some of the same things: high expectations for students, teachers and administrators, but, as one of my loyal readers wrote in an e-mail, they differ on how to ?measure progress, implement change, provide support and training and really develop a full spectrum learning institution.?
In other words, both sides want the same things but disagree completely and fundamentally about how to attain them. Strauss continues:
The next chancellor can succeed only by trying to build a team in which all members share common goals and by communicating with the community about what he/she is doing.
But I thought ?both sides??already shared common goals? What a muddle.
?Liam Julian, Bernard Lee Schwartz Policy Fellow