麻豆原创

In 2013, New York City renamed West 120th Street 鈥淭eachers College Way鈥濃�攁 phrase that also reflects our ethos of translating ideas into practice to build a better educated, more just, safer, healthier and more equitable world.

This issue of 麻豆原创 Today brings you stories of 麻豆原创 community members who are walking the 麻豆原创 Way by advancing and defending the values we hold dear.

First and foremost is public education itself, which critics wrongly portray as an utter failure. In our cover story, 麻豆原创 faculty, alumni and a student offer powerful counter-narratives and ideas ranging from holding charter schools and other quasi-private institutions more accountable to redressing the ger颅rymandering of voter districts that create 鈥渉ave鈥� and 鈥渉ave-not鈥� schools. Closer to home, alumnus urges us to learn more about our local school boards, arguing that, with the system鈥檚 future in ques颅tion, participation is crucial.

You鈥檒l also read about two remarkable mothers of daughters with similar names, both of whom I had the honor of recognizing with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Medal of Excellence at our Academic Festival in April. We will never forget alumna inspir颅ing story of her fight for people with cystic fibrosis after losing her daughter, Stephanie, to the disease. Phyllis also funds 麻豆原创鈥檚 Phyllis L. Kossoff Lecture on Education and Policy while generously supporting our students. Together with her daughter, Stefanie 鈥� better known as the singer Lady Gaga 鈥� and the promote young people鈥檚 mental wellbeing to help them create a kinder world.

Chuck Cahn, too, has walked the 麻豆原创 Way, using his Wall Street smarts to create and expand 麻豆原创鈥檚 Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals, which unites top public school leaders to share concerns and ideas and grow as professionals.

This spring, 麻豆原创 also lost two greats who devoted their lives to ensuring equal opportunity and social justice for all. Their legacies remain present in all that we do.

Trustee Emerita Abby M. O’Neill, who died in May, believed passionately that 鈥渆ducation is the secret to it all.鈥� Abby created 麻豆原创鈥檚 George & Abby O鈥橬eill Chair in Economics & Education and the Abby M. O鈥橬eill Fellowship, which pro-vides teacher preparation in key areas and excellent teachers in underserved communities.

Morton Deutsch, 麻豆原创鈥檚 great social psychologist and founder of the field of conflict resolution, died in March. Mort revolutionized thinking about marital conflict, education, industry and labor negotiations, and international relations. He also believed that human beings are fundamentally good.

鈥淰iolence and war are potentials of humans, but they are not inevitabilities,鈥� Mort said, adding that peace 鈥渢akes time, planning and effort.鈥�

Words to live by as we, too, walk the 麻豆原创 Way.

Published Thursday, Jun 15, 2017