Always got mad when the class was dismissed

"more sophisticated, highly edu-ma-cated
not at all over-rated, I think I need a prayer"
-The Pharcyde

Every now and then, a new buzzword creeps into the national vernacular; especially when it comes to educational reform. The latest one is 21st Century Skills. Education reform has taken on quite a role in my life in the past six years.

The federal education department released its short list of states who passed the litmus test for the Race To The Top Fund. Massachusetts is on the list, as is my home state of South Carolina. Turning around low-performing schools is certainly going to take a while, as evidenced by how long it's taken already. Pouring more money simply ain't going to cut it.

And being bold and brave ain't going to suffice in a silo either. It's going to take a complex mix of many puzzle pieces. Some that haven't even molded yet. Statewide reform legislation is a start. I'll admit I have a personal stake in several of the Boston labeled underperforming base don either persona relationships with staff or students. Yet, through all the hype, the human element still exists.

Maybe a month or two ago, I was at a middle school and one youngin wanted to do his regular thizzle. I called him out, he stepped, and we continued on. I shrugged it off. But I took 2 minutes to use it as case-in-point time to put him on blast. Basically, I asked them to give me their definition of what it means to hustle. We have a quick discussion and I give my perspective. He's hustling himself. Older folks can try all they want to get him to shape up, but until he realizes himself there is no progress to be made. The teachers will get paid regardless of if he learns or not. I think back to Lean On Me, when Joe Clark was on the roof with Thomas Sams and told him to go ahead and jump off the roof and Sams refused.

"Why don't you just jump off the roof, right here and now? That's what you really want, isn't it? Yes, you do. You smoke crack, don't you, boy? Don't you smoke crack? Yeah, I thought so. And you know what that does to you? You don't? It kills your brain cells, son. It kills your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, you're doing the same thing as killing yourself. You're just doing it slower! Now, I say if your wanna kill yourself, don't fuK around with it, do it expeditiously! Go on and jump! JUMP! "

Motivational speaking at its finest.

Some of Boston's teachers and administrators have that same talent and passion. Some school are already being turned around with culture as the starting point. Others face upward battles for a host of bureaucratic and political reasons. Yet, it's also going to necessitate the great school community to become more involved and engaged in the lives of its youth; by those with children and even those without.