An inspiring if simplistic account of an African-American educator
determined to make a difference in the lives of indifferent
students. Hayre tells two stories here. The first - of her years as
teacher, principal, administrator, college professor, and president
of the Philadelphia Board of Education - is too sketchy to be of
much value. But the unfolding story of the "Tell Them We Are
Rising" program deserves a wide readership. At age 80, in June
1988, Hayre met with 116 Philadelphia sixth-graders and promised
them that she would pay their college tuition if they graduated
from high school. During the next six years, 22 became unwed
mothers, 5 had run-ins with the criminal-justice system, and 16
dropped out. None of this is surprising, since, she notes,
"poverty, violence, and abuse informed the geography" of a
substantial percentage of the Risers, who live in "the grip of a
culture that ranks instant gratification above delayed rewards."
What is impressive, though, is how the intervention of one
remarkable person, along with mentors and parents, made a
difference in the lives of so many. Khalil, for example, born
heroin-addicted, abandoned by both parents, and left back in school
twice, began getting As and Bs, and was accepted at Morehouse
College. Hayre learns many valuable lessons from her Risers. They
include the importance of finding alternative methods for educating
at-risk youth; the value of establishing one-to-one relationships
with caring, responsible adults; the necessity for parental
involvement; and not least, the need for such inventive programs as
"Tell Them We Are Rising." (Coauthor Moore is on the editorial
board of the Philadelphia Inquirer.) The author can be a little too
harsh on teachers, as when she implies that they need to be held
more accountable for the anger and indifference felt by so many
black males. But here she offers a clear plan, hope, and a
challenge to inner-city youth and their educators. (Kirkus Reviews)
tell them we are rising
""The inspiring story of how one woman gave back.""--Ed Bradley
""This is a heartwarming story about struggle, survival, and
achieve ment. If we didn't know people like this in our lives, we
would want to invent them. What more could one ask? A good story
told with a deft hand.""--William H. Gray III President, United
Negro College Fund
""An inspiring account of an African American educator determined
to make a difference in the lives of indifferent
students.""--Kirkus Reviews
""Tell Them We Are Rising is a wonderful, inspiring story of
service, commitment, generosity, love, and hope. It is written with
the humor, wisdom, and grace of a bygone era, yet spiced with the
ultramodern savvy and the future-oriented vision of a
twenty-year-old. What an extraordinary woman What an extraordinary
life ""--Chaka Fattah U.S. Representative (Pennsylvania)
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