West Philadelphia residents recently camped out in the January cold, in hopes of assuring their kindergartners admission to a public elementary school. Granted, this particular school has had better than average results.
Devoted parents everywhere can understand the motivation of these mothers and fathers. The real question is why such an extreme step was necessary. Why in the United States of America, in this land of milk and honey, a good education is not the right of every child.
Are the children at the back of the line less deserving or those whose parents were unable to participate at all? Perhaps we should come right out and institute a trial by fire, a sort of educational Olympics. There is already a lottery in place for charter school slots.
Until we value every child, regardless of economic status, this nation will be the loser.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 