George,

Many times I am reminded of the quandary we face in our public schools, not only in Charlottesville, but also in our nation, as similar to what much in corporate America is confronting, systems that are failing largely because the original premise of public schools and many U.S. corporations no longer work. Outmoded ideas and applications simply don't bring about desired results. Trying to change from within is just creating a patchwork of, at very best, mediocre results. . most often, outright failure.

In my opinion, there is still the belief that public schools largely serve the role of "in loco parentis," that a large part of their existence centers around discipline and "keeping kids in line."

Teachers, instead of devoting their energy and skills to teaching become disciplinarians.

Often many kids cynically say, "school is a prison where you can leave at the end of the day."

I don't know for certain that detention is still meted out as punishment, but I can't think of anything that will make a student feel confirmed in the above belief than to know more school, in the form of detention, is punishment!

I feel that somehow a different attitude must begin to prevail in our society , that is, that we support schools that teach children individual responsibility, to think and act independently and to see a personal benefit to their lives from the learning opportunity and experience. . . . . one size fits all will not work.

This isn't theory, even in the poorest sections of our cities, schools with a more sophisticated approach to the way kids are taught is working. . . .

I think educators should read the "Foxfire" series of books to see what just giving kids a sense of self respect and appreciation for their lives can do to their learning experience.

We must pay competitive salaries, not treat teachers like they are just adjuncts to family income and recruit the best, honor all teachers equally, not to disproportionately heap praise on a winning coach!

I see the similarity to a company like General Motors, once great, once the envy of the industrial world but locked into a premise that once produced monumental success but now unable to escape their myopic vision of the way they think things should be. While the world faces a serious energy crunch with price and supply, GM brings forth the Hummer!

Often, I am convinced that change can only come by totally abandoning the old; replacing it with new ideas and a new vigor to implement those changes.

It is clear to me that hand wringing and lamenting the way things are is not the answer, there are too many examples of success that can serve as models.

- Harry Tenney (electronic mail, March 7, 2006)