Friday, May 11, 2012

A Fantasy Public Statement | Taking Note

A Fantasy Public Statement | Taking Note:


A Fantasy Public Statement

The time for more prominent voices is now.


Last week I wrote about a grim reality: the murder of young students in New Orleans. This week I turn to what is probably a fantasy: the idea that our most influential educators would speak out against this stain on our culture and threat to our future.
That raises two questions:
1) Who are America’s most prominent and influential educators?
2) What could they possibly agree to say publicly that would go beyond generalities and grab the nation’s attention?
Because any list of influential educators would draw from across the political and ideological spectrum, wouldn’t that necessarily mean that the statement would end up being namby-pamby pablum, something about “supporting the right of all students to education” or some other equally bland