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Sunday, September 29, 2013

The BIG Picture: Beyond "Ravitch vs. Rhee"



Both Michelle Rhee's and Diane Ravitch's views of public education are relevant - much like the differing views of W. E. B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington (regarding the uplift and advancement of African-Americans).

Civil discourse - especially between dissenters - promotes growth.

It treats differing views as diametrically opposed points on the same circle, and subjects both to a bigger picture - one where the *circle* is more important than the *points* ...


Ravitch vs. Rhee
Like W.E.B. vs. Booker T.?
Well, could be ...
We shall see

Both raise fair points
Both are followed by throngs
Neither has the answers
Neither embraces their wrongs

Pray that purpose trumps agendas
And for civil discourse
That the immovable object
Meets the irresistible force

The object is a system
Never designed to achieve
But rather to control
What we think and believe

Protected by the "old school"
Attacked by the "new new"
By doing the "same ole, same ole"
Wrapped in rhetorical "fru fru"

The force? Original thought
That inspires us to think
And recognize the kool-aid
Then refuse to drink

Kindly refuse this political seduction
Focus instead on work and production
Reach - then teach
Practice - don't preach

Help Johnny read & write
Think, count, and create
To lead by first serving
To love, grow and relate

Challenge him to say
But to do even more
And to handle success
Like he's succeeded before

To influence his circle
By continuing to "be"
Ignore "being somebody"
Trying to create history

To make his dreams manifest
Even if no one else sees
And to stick to his guns
Even if no one else agrees.



To learn more ...
  1. This Is Only A Test, by Jonathan Kozol (New York Times Sunday Book Review) (September 26, 2013)
  2. The Two Faces of American Education, by Andrew Diblanco (New York Review of Books) (October 10, 2013)
  3. TWEET (9/28/2013): Rhee's and Ravitch's views r relevant - but r 2 pts on same circle. The *circle* is more important than the *pts*. http://bit.ly/1fyiYbd


Copyright © 2013 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Dear Hannah: Life Is A Story


 

Dear Hannah,


Faith is the ability to hope and believe.

Hope is a feeling of expectation.

Belief is a view of truth.

Truth is an estimate of reality.

Reality is what (you think) occurs during life.

Life is a story.

A story is your account of events.

A relationship with God makes your story better.

It helps you explain ...

Love through the affection of a lover

Life through the adventures of a liver

Giving through the gifts of a giver

Forgiveness through the heart of the forgiver

Loss through the pain and healing of the griever

Success through the works of the purposeful achiever

God through the prayers of a fervent believer



Love,

Daddy


Copyright © 2013 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

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