6 Responses to “Los Angeles Radio”

1. Angela Chan says:

   July 21, 2009 at 11:36 pm

   Hi Paul,

   Your book inspired me to visit Promise Academy 1 Elementary and Middle Schools a few weeks ago. It was a very special experience, and I was so touched by their hospitality.

   I went because I really wanted to see for myself what it takes to get kids to succeed, and because I wanted to think about implications for urban public schools. I really wish there weren’t so many obstacles to replicating some of the structures in our neighborhood schools. Promise Academy clearly has a system that works, and the bureaucracy should not be an excuse for us not to do just as much. Still, there are some things that, as an individual teacher, I can and will do better.

   Do you have more information about the Promise Neighborhood grants? Who should be applying for it – local government, community and nonprofit organizations, charter schools? I hope Philadelphia doesn’t miss out. It’s been hard to find out if anyone is seriously thinking about this, but I’m definitely going to keep advocating and spreading the word.

   I assume E. M. Tough is your newborn child? That’s wonderful. Congratulations!

   Angela
2. Paul Tough says:

   July 22, 2009 at 10:21 am

   Hi Angela.

   Thanks for your note — I’m really glad to hear you were able to visit Promise Academy.

   I’ve written a new afterword to the book for the paperback edition, which will be out in September. It’s mostly about Promise Neighborhoods and the road ahead. But the short version is: I don’t think that Congress has yet approved the administration’s request for $10 million in planning grants. But when and if they do, those grants will be administered by the Department of Education and (I think) they will go out this fall.

   I think the idea is that local nonprofits will apply for the grants — but my sense is that they can do so in partnership with local governments and/or charter schools. (And that seems like a good idea to me.) I do hope Philadelphia is able to make a good pitch; it does seem like a natural location.

   Yes, E.M. is in his third week on the planet — and already he’s been on the air!

   Paul
3. Angela Chan says:

   August 25, 2009 at 4:19 pm

   Hi Paul,

   Thanks for your response. Do you have time for more thoughts?

   I haven’t seen the paperback or read the afterword, but it seems like you favor starting with charter schools (vs. public schools) and communities, which makes sense. I just have a hard time leaving the public school system out of the conversation. I mean, is our goal to create so many charter schools that we won’t need any more public schools? I can’t imagine that happening. Yet, if publics schools are to coexist with the HCZ model network of charter schools, then public schools should also be supported and changed to succeed in the same way.

   I’ve talked to some colleagues about what I’ve learned about HCZ. I think the danger for public school teachers is to use the lack of resources as an excuse for inadequate progress. The temptation is to say “look at all they have at Promise Academy — we can’t do what they do because we don’t have what they have”. It is a valid point, but what can we do to compensate, or change the system, rather than accept the situation?

   What I would like to see is for public schools to also see HCZ as a model for change. Is that too idealistic and unrealistic? I don’t think anyone has an easy answer.

   Angela
4. Paul Tough says:

   September 4, 2009 at 4:30 pm

   Hi Angela.

   I think you’re right — that’s a big question, and no one yet has an answer.

   But I agree, any large-scale solution needs to involve public schools, and for public schools to be involved, they need to change. I think that’s possible, but certainly difficult.

   Thanks for writing,

   Paul
5. Angela Chan says:

   December 22, 2009 at 9:47 pm

   Hi Paul,

   I want to wish you the very the best as you take up writing full-time. Whatever It Takes really transformed the way I think about public education, and I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts in your next book.

   And I trust that E.M. is doing well?

   Angela
6. Paul Tough says:

   December 22, 2009 at 10:36 pm

   Thanks, Angela. And E.M. is doing very well — thanks for asking!