I often complain about the lack of “good news about schools” stories in the media.
Sure they get the story when a third grader brings a gun to school but I never saw my 6th grade Science Fair on Channel 2. So, hey, I was thrilled, thrilled, I tell you, on the front page of my Washington Post.
I could have spent the day a happy woman, but noooo. I just had to read the whole story. I wanted to love this story. I wanted to call up the Post writer and invite him over for a pedicure (which I believe is the highest form of human gratitude). But I am haunted that the good news was the bad news.
It was a sweet piece on the success in, where a superintendent is getting well-deserved credit for concentrating on closing the “achievement gaps” between white kids and black and Hispanic kids.
(I hate to be picky, but this is actually standardized-test-score gaps which, please trust me, is not the same thing as achievement but anyway the point is…)