the architect of two emergency measures designed to scuttle the state's plans, worked his colleagues for nearly eight hours straight yesterday, pushing legislation at warp speed through two committees and onto the Senate floor.While I have a great deal of skepticism about McFadden's motives, one cannot but help admire his passion. However, I think the longer these schools continue under the status quo, the more kids are going to be hurt by the schools' ineffectiveness.
As his measure passed its first hurdle, the senator broke down and wept outside the meeting room, partly from relief but more from frustration with those inside who said that Baltimore's schools are squandering money, time and children's futures.
"We're making progress, but we're just not making as much progress as people would like to see," he said, wiping tears from his cheeks. "It's just that it's going to take Baltimore City longer to get where it needs to go."
I think state Superintendant Nancy Grasmick made a bad timing move, undertaking the effort to take over the schools while the legislature is still in session, but that is not at issue. What is at issue is the continuation, despite the consequences, of not embracing change, of not admitting mistakes were made and trying to correct them. How much progress will be made in a year? How much is expected? What will the schools and the administration do to meet those expectations? What excuses will be offered up, by the schools and McFadden, if the progress is not forthcoming?
All these questions need to be answered and with the speed at which this legislation is moving, you can bet no one is asking these questions. Legislatures are notoriously poor at quick response measures. McFadden should drop this effort and seek to actually fix the schools rather than giving those currently responsible one more pass at a time when these schools have spent nearly a decade underperforming.
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