From the Washington Post’s Answer Sheet blog we learn that Washington’s mayor-to-be, Vincent Gray, “believes a student’s family life is at least as important” as the quality of that student’s teacher and has “questioned whether kids can properly be judged by a test score if they come to school sick or hungry.” It’s fine to think that pupils should sprout from supportive families and be fed balanced and bountiful meals and pay regular visits to the doctor. But in ed-policy land, Gray’s words too often mean that expectations for pupils will be lowered while we wait . . . and wait . . . and wait for shattered families to assemble, for organic oases to appear in food deserts, for every youngster to get the basic medical care he requires and deserves....
