“A Bronx Teacher’s Tale”
The following reflection, about the importance of giving students multiple ways to demonstrate their abilities and merit, comes to us from Dr. Irwin Schwartz, a longtime educator and father to Organizing Committee member Natalie Schwartz. Enjoy!
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“A Bronx Teacher’s Tale”
I worked in a Bronx intermediate school near Yankee Stadium (a shrine to this Bronx kid). I was a physical/health education teacher, a team leader, and an assistant principal over the course of thirty-three years.
During that time, I taught thousands of students. But one in particular continues to stand out in my mind. It was a matter of days before I had a gut feeling that Rashaun (not his real name) was exceptional. He seemed more mature and confident than his classmates, without a trace of arrogance. His social skills came naturally, and he was well-liked by all of the other students.
His grades were typically in the 95 percent to 98 percent range. He was gifted academically and athletically.
