In every neighborhood, the public schools are still the most encouraging places in the entire metropolitan city. Wherever you go you see children and teachers making sincere efforts about important things. Minds are being opened and taught the great stories and thoughts of humanity. Behavior is being monitored and corrected. Feelings and needs are being addressed.
Idealism is constant.
Always there is sudden prophecy, the integrity and earnestness of children. No matter how difficult the situation, no matter what else may be going on, in our public schools children pursue daily and earnestly the hope of their own future and the goodness of their days, assisted by adults. There are children with hope, and there are children with pain. If you stand there in the hallway or on the playground you can see it all. Because these are public schools, everybody is there.