A Teachable Moment

This week's New York Times Magazine has a really interesting story entitled, A Teachable Moment by Paul Tough. The article talks about the interesting opportunity that has arisen in New Orleans to radically reform the school system due to Katrina. Due to the fact that there is no school board, no collective bargaining agreement, and a teachers union with very little power" (p. 51) allows for change leaders the freedom to try new educational reforms. Many new charter schools have been created in New Orleans. The article points out that "on average nationwide, charters don't do significantly better than traditional public schools" (p. 36).

I liked the article because the authors were willing to explore some very tough questions that face education today. They also interviewed some provocative leaders who are involved in the movement to reform the New Orleans school system. These leaders gave very honest answers and perspectives to these complex issues.

Paul Pastorek, the state education superintendent, who interestingly did not come from an educational background, talked about how new forms of leadership are needed. He said, "the command and control structure can produce marginal improvements, but what's clear to me is that it can only get you so far. If you create a system where initiative and creativity is valued and rewarded, then you'll get change from the bottom up. If you create a system where people are told what to do and how to do it, then you will get change from the top down" (p. 34).

Diane Ravitch, who researches school reform, points out, "If you don't buttress whatever happens in school with social and economic changes that give kids a better chance in life and put their families on a more stable footing, then schools alone are not going to solve the problems of poor student performance. There has to be a range of social and economic strategies to support and enhance whatever happens in school" (p. 37).

Patorek agreed with Ravitch, but added that currently he doesn't have the luxury of the funding it would take to address these issues. He said that he has to "take the position that we're going to do it in spite of that" (p.46).