Participation in Perspective

March 4, 2016

In school sports, we promote playing more than winning.

We know that kids would rather play on a losing team than only sit and watch on a winning team.
We know that, more than winning, kids play for fun, friendships and fitness ... for the “Fs” more than the “Ws.”

But participation alone is not our goal in school sports. The goal is high participation with high standards.

Our mission is to increase participation and to raise standards, including standards of eligibility, conduct and care.

We know that as we raise such standards for participation, we tend to raise the value of participation for students, schools and society.

Hit Again

April 1, 2013

Education reform needs a Mulligan. A do-over. The opportunity to go back to “Go” and start over. For example . . .

Back to a time before the attack on neighborhood schools closed those schools and contributed to neighborhood collapse and community disconnect.
Before suburban schools were allowed to prey on and profit from an urban school’s misfortunes.
Before large buses lumbered down narrow residential lanes to transport our littlest learners from the shadow of their local school to another across town, where all the other littlest students were gathered for more “cost-effective” education.
Before schools shuffled off low-achieving students to alternative schools in order to elevate their ranking on standardized test scores.
Before teachers based their lessons more on test preparation than learning.
Before education re-segregated through specialized charter schools with non-inclusive curricula.
Before public schools were barred from beginning their instructional days before Labor Day, or whenever their community thought it best for the education of its students.
Back to a time when pedagogy more than politics planned and delivered education.

Let’s tee it up and hit again.