Stand and deliver

The "education mayor" needs to do more

It took courage for Menino to tell the city, back in 1996, that he would like his tenure as mayor to be judged on what happens in the schools. That's a tough standard, because every action to reform education seems to generate an equal and opposite outcry. Already, Menino is backing off his promise to serve only two terms. The reason? He still needs time to fulfill his pledge to turn the schools around.

But if Menino is going to break the first promise, he'd better make sure he delivers on the second. And that means he needs to move faster.

Menino must remind Boston why public education matters. The schools are where tomorrow's minds are formed. The public school is also one of the only places where Americans of all backgrounds -- all races, classes, and creeds -- must work together. The public school is, in a very real sense, the place where good citizens are made.

Menino must also remind us that public education is especially important for a city. The quality of schools (along with public safety) determines whether middle-class families are attracted to Boston -- or flee from it. When the middle class comes, it builds strong, stable neighborhoods -- the foundation for a vital city. When the middle class leaves, the city falters. For Boston, the clock is ticking.

Education is also at the nexus of other urban priorities. Even the most hardened police officers will tell you that there is no better way to prevent future crime problems than to keep kids in school. It is also an economic-development issue: companies relocate to cities with an educated work force and good schools for their employees' children. Above all, education is an antidote to dependency.

Menino has plenty to be proud of. He recruited Thomas Payzant, a talented reformer. He also fought hard to keep the appointed school board -- an absolute requirement for change. But, as Yvonne Abraham points out in this issue ("Flying Solo"), the mayor needs to bring the same fighting spirit to other political battles that Payzant and the school board cannot fight alone.

Places to learn. In 1994, the Boston Teachers' Union and the school department agreed to allow some schools to operate outside the usual bureaucratic rules. These "pilot schools" were charged with finding new educational approaches to become models that all the schools could emulate. Already, it is clear that these exciting schools are working -- witness the long waiting lists -- but the city has not made it easy. They are still hemmed in by bureaucrats. Even more important, many of the pilot schools are being hampered -- or blocked entirely -- because they simply don't have a place to go. All across the Boston public school system, there is a serious facilities crunch. In 1994, Menino's Blue Ribbon Commission reported that the city desperately needed to build new schools to accommodate the burgeoning student population. There has not been a new public school built since 1977.

Teaching tolerance. Massachusetts has been a national model for teaching tolerance of gays and lesbians. In 1993, the state directed high schools to adopt a program that has since proved a success across the state. The unhappy surprise, as Jason Gay reported in last week's Phoenix ("Closeted Classrooms," November 14), is that all but one of Boston's high schools have ignored the order. Menino must make it clear that this is not acceptable.

Starting young. The more we learn about education, the more clear it is that there is no substitute for starting early. At the same time, more and more parents are working during those vital years. Yet Payzant has been forced to cut back early-learning slots for four-year-olds because there is not enough money. The Blue Ribbon Commission recommended building eight early-learning centers. So far, there's only been enough money for three.

There are good reasons for hope. With the Boston Arts Academy finally under way and arts curriculum standards finally in place, Boston seems to be recognizing the importance of fostering creativity -- hitherto considered a luxury. And with more schools emphasizing school-to-career programs, the city seems to be rediscovering a concept -- vocational training -- that had fallen out of favor.

But Boston has been disappointed before. It will take an unwavering sense of urgency if the mayor is to leave his mark.

What do you think? Send an e-mail to letters[a]phx.com.