My favorite lines so far (quoting Marco Torres of SFETT about his "failing school"):
I convinced the parents that test scores are basically based solely for school reputations. They don't do anything to develop human spirit in children. They don't do anything to support educators and make them feel better about the jobs that they do, and, most importantly, kids, especially here in my community, a lot of them have very low self-esteem. So, if I can make them feel good, make them feel special, then the parents feel good, and the parents feel special....That is very rewarding and those little quick victories in their lives, builds will for them to make bigger decisions. (p. 65)
While I am awed and humbled (not the right word - more that he makes me feel inadequate as a teacher) by this man's work, I applaud his vision, the way he "gets" right at what is so important and what is so wrong in our educational system. He's talking about Latino students in urban Southern California, but he describes my nearly-Appalachian rural students precisely.
All the focus on accountability and standardization and the same leaders decry the lack of creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, empathy, and workplace skills in our graduates. Well, duh! How many bubble tests does it take to kill the joy of learning?
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