Speaking of throwing: "The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day." So said Jim "Catfish" Hunter, one of baseball's greatest closers, after giving up a home-run to lose a World Series game in 1974. And it appears, sadly, that the sun has finally set on KIPP Harbor Academy in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. For the first time in KIPP's successful history, one of its schools is closing for lack of space. At this point, the blame-game isn't worth playing. The bottom line is that 120 students in the Old Line State no longer have the same high-quality education options they once did. Failure hurts, more so when children's futures are at stake. But the great ones keep pitching. Catfish went on to win a number of championship rings. Bet on KIPP winning a better life for lots of Maryland youngsters in the near future. Somewhere.
"KIPP charter school closure is certain," by Ruma Kumar, Baltimore Sun, July 13, 2007