Harlem program forms a circle of success for kids

Leonard Pitts, Jr.:

Canada's other key innovation: Think big. What good is it to save one child and send him into a neighborhood where every other child is failing? ``Well, after a while, it has an impact on your child. That kid either never goes outside again or they learn to adjust in that environment.''

He calls that a ''negative contagion.'' And, he asked, ''What if we could create a positive contagious effect?'' Meaning, what if we could send that child out into a peer group of other children who were also doing well? As he sees it, it's not enough to save a child here and there. We have to save the children.

So overall, the zone serves more than 9,000 kids. They have smaller classes, a longer school day and a longer school year than their peers. Their teachers are paid more and given more classroom freedom, but are also held more accountable. After school, the kids take karate and yoga classes, get tutored, paint murals, practice plays, dance, write.

From a good friend.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 6, 2007 6:14 AM
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