"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Celebrate the Courage of Martin McGreal

We know what happens when education is turned over to the bean counters in the Mayors' offices of America's metropolitan areas: children are sacrificed and, otherwise, politicized to earn political points and save money for more important matters. That is why Tuesday's story in WaPo has resonated around the country, for here is an example of a true hero who has sacrificed his job to stand up for what is right for children:
CHICAGO -- Fed up with overcrowding at a Chicago public high school with too many problems and too little space, Principal Martin McGreal indulged a fantasy of overwhelmed school leaders everywhere: He declared enrollment closed.
The rest here.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:09 PM

    Good for you!
    There is a moral imperative for our schools and it takes courage to stand up for what you believe is in the best interest of the children.

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  2. Anonymous11:38 PM

    I was very encouraged when I read about Martin McGreal in the newspaper today; it is good to know that there are people who are willing to take a stand to help solve our country's education crisis.

    On the other hand, I am disappointed that our administrators do not recognize the power of individuals such as McGreal to make a change in our education. When are we going to start trusting our local teachers and principals to make qualified decisions for themselves?

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  3. Anonymous10:09 PM

    I think that every theacher should stand up for wat they believe in even if it puts their job at risk. Martin McGreal is a very inspiring person and in return deserves a chain reaction. Now is the time to stand up and tell the world that we got it all wrong. If we could jus put others before ourselves we could be confident in the fact that there is always someone behind us. Its a shame Martin McGreal was fired but times are different now. Yea the economy is in a downward spiral but that doesnt mean we should sit back and watch it. We need to stand up for wat is rite and become Martin McGreal's chain reaction.

    ReplyDelete