Today's is Samuel Freedman's last New York Times column, he reports. That's a real shame, as he brought a great amount of compassion, and common sense, to his writing on education. For example:
No education column received greater reader response than one last August about an award-winning, idealistic young math teacher, Austin Lampros. He had been overruled by his principal at the High School of Arts and Technology in Manhattan when he tried to give a failing grade to a senior who missed scores of classes, didn't even show up to take the final and claimed a dubious medical excuse.
The student got her passing grade and her diploma. The principal still has her job. The only loser was Mr. Lampros, who quit a profession he adored rather than be party to a travesty.
Now we'll have one less voice speaking up for academic standards. Which means that there aren't many of those voices left.
