The_AT Death_NN1 and_CC Life_NN1 of_IO the_AT Great_JJ American_JJ School_NN1 System_NN1 :_: How_RRQ Testing_NP1 and_CC Choice_NN1 are_VBR Undermining_VVG Education_NN1 What_DDQ I_PPIS1 Learned_VVD About_II School_NN1 Reform_NN1 In_II the_AT fall_NN1 of_IO 2007_MC ,_, I_PPIS1 reluctantly_RR decided_VVD to_TO have_VHI my_APPGE office_NN1 repainted_VVN ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ inconvenient_JJ ._. 
I_PPIS1 work_VV0 at_II home_NN1 ,_, on_II the_AT top_JJ floor_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 nineteenth-century_JJ brownstone_NN1 in_II Brooklyn_NP1 ._. 
Not_XX only_RR did_VDD I_PPIS1 have_VHI to_TO stop_VVI working_VVG for_IF three_MC weeks_NNT2 ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 had_VHD the_AT additional_JJ burden_NN1 of_IO packing_VVG up_RP and_CC removing_VVG everything_PN1 in_II my_APPGE office_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 had_VHD to_TO relocate_VVI fifty_MC boxes_NN2 of_IO books_NN2 and_CC files_NN2 to_II other_JJ rooms_NN2 in_II the_AT house_NN1 until_CS the_AT painting_NN1 job_NN1 was_VBDZ complete_JJ ._. 
After_CS the_AT patching_NN1 ,_, plastering_VVG ,_, and_CC painting_NN1 was_VBDZ done_VDN ,_, I_PPIS1 began_VVD unpacking_VVG twenty_MC years_NNT2 of_IO papers_NN2 and_CC books_NN2 ,_, discarding_VVG those_DD2 I_PPIS1 no_RR21 longer_RR22 wanted_VVD ,_, and_CC placing_VVG articles_NN2 into_II scrapbooks_NN2 ._. 
You_PPY may_VM wonder_VVI what_DDQ all_DB this_DD1 mundane_JJ stuff_NN1 has_VHZ to_TO do_VDI with_IW my_APPGE life_NN1 in_II the_AT education_NN1 field_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 found_VVD that_CST the_AT chore_NN1 of_IO reorganizing_VVG the_AT artifacts_NN2 of_IO my_APPGE professional_JJ life_NN1 was_VBDZ pleasantly_RR ruminative_JJ ._. 
It_PPH1 had_VHD a_AT1 tonic_NN1 effect_NN1 ,_, because_CS it_PPH1 allowed_VVD me_PPIO1 to_TO reflect_VVI on_II the_AT changes_NN2 in_II my_APPGE views_NN2 over_II the_AT years_NNT2 ._. 
At_II the_AT very_JJ time_NNT1 that_CST I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ packing_VVG up_RP my_APPGE books_NN2 and_CC belongings_NN2 ,_, I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ going_VVG through_II an_AT1 intellectual_JJ crisis_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ aware_JJ that_CST I_PPIS1 had_VHD undergone_VVN a_AT1 wrenching_JJ transformation_NN1 in_II my_APPGE perspective_NN1 on_II school_NN1 reform_NN1 ._. 
Where_CS once_RR I_PPIS1 had_VHD been_VBN hopeful_JJ ,_, even_RR enthusiastic_JJ ,_, about_II the_AT potential_JJ benefits_NN2 of_IO testing_NN1 ,_, accountability_NN1 ,_, choice_NN1 ,_, and_CC markets_NN2 ,_, I_PPIS1 now_RT found_VVD myself_PPX1 experiencing_VVG profound_JJ doubts_NN2 about_II these_DD2 same_DA ideas_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ trying_VVG to_TO sort_VVI through_II the_AT evidence_NN1 about_II what_DDQ was_VBDZ working_VVG and_CC what_DDQ was_VBDZ not_XX ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ trying_VVG to_TO understand_VVI why_RRQ I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ increasingly_RR skeptical_JJ about_II these_DD2 reforms_NN2 ,_, reforms_VVZ that_CST I_PPIS1 had_VHD supported_VVN enthusiastically_RR ._. 
I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ trying_VVG to_TO see_VVI my_APPGE way_NN1 through_II the_AT blinding_JJ assumptions_NN2 of_IO ideology_NN1 and_CC politics_NN1 ,_, including_II my_APPGE own_DA ._. 
I_PPIS1 kept_VVD asking_VVG myself_PPX1 why_RRQ I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ losing_VVG confidence_NN1 in_II these_DD2 reforms_NN2 ._. 
My_APPGE answer_NN1 :_: I_PPIS1 have_VH0 a_AT1 right_NN1 to_TO change_VVI my_APPGE mind_NN1 ._. 
Fair_RR enough_RR ._. 
But_CCB why_RRQ ,_, I_PPIS1 kept_VVD wondering_VVG ,_, why_RRQ had_VHD I_PPIS1 changed_VVN my_APPGE mind_NN1 ?_? 
What_DDQ was_VBDZ the_AT compelling_JJ evidence_NN1 that_CST prompted_VVD me_PPIO1 to_TO reevaluate_VVI the_AT policies_NN2 I_PPIS1 had_VHD endorsed_VVN many_DA2 times_NNT2 over_II the_AT previous_JJ decade_NNT1 ?_? 
Why_RRQ did_VDD I_PPIS1 now_RT doubt_VVI ideas_NN2 I_PPIS1 once_RR had_VHD advocated_VVN ?_? 
The_AT short_JJ answer_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST my_APPGE views_NN2 changed_VVN as_CSA I_PPIS1 saw_VVD how_RRQ these_DD2 ideas_NN2 were_VBDR working_VVG out_RP in_II reality_NN1 ._. 
The_AT long_JJ answer_NN1 is_VBZ what_DDQ will_VM follow_VVI in_II the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 book_NN1 ._. 
When_CS someone_PN1 chastised_VVD John_NP1 Maynard_NP1 Keynes_NP1 for_IF reversing_VVG himself_PPX1 about_II a_AT1 particular_JJ economic_JJ policy_NN1 he_PPHS1 had_VHD previously_RR endorsed_VVN ,_, he_PPHS1 replied_VVD ,_, "_" When_CS the_AT facts_NN2 change_VV0 ,_, I_PPIS1 change_VV0 my_APPGE mind_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ do_VD0 you_PPY do_VDI ,_, sir_NN1 ?_? "_" 
This_DD1 comment_NN1 may_VM or_CC may_VM not_XX be_VBI apocryphal_JJ ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 admire_VV0 the_AT thought_NN1 behind_II it_PPH1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ the_AT mark_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 sentient_JJ human_JJ being_NN1 to_TO learn_VVI from_II experience_NN1 ,_, to_TO pay_VVI close_JJ attention_NN1 to_II how_RRQ theories_NN2 work_VV0 out_RP when_CS put_VVN into_II practice_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ should_VM we_PPIS2 think_VVI of_IO someone_PN1 who_PNQS never_RR admits_VVZ error_NN1 ,_, never_RR entertains_VVZ doubt_NN1 hut_NN1 adheres_VVZ unflinchingly_RR to_II the_AT same_DA ideas_NN2 all_DB his_PPGE 1ife_FO ,_, regardless_RR of_IO new_JJ evidence_NN1 ?_? 
Doubt_VV0 and_CC skepticism_NN1 are_VBR signs_NN2 of_IO rationality_NN1 ._. 
When_CS we_PPIS2 are_VBR too_RG certain_JJ of_IO our_APPGE opinions_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 run_VV0 the_AT risk_NN1 of_IO ignoring_VVG any_DD evidence_NN1 that_CST conflicts_NN2 with_IW our_APPGE views_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ doubt_NN1 that_CST shows_VVZ we_PPIS2 are_VBR still_RR thinking_VVG ,_, still_RR willing_JJ to_TO reexamine_VVI hardened_JJ beliefs_NN2 when_CS confronted_VVN with_IW new_JJ facts_NN2 and_CC new_JJ evidence_NN1 ._. 
The_AT task_NN1 of_IO sorting_VVG my_APPGE articles_NN2 gave_VVD me_PPIO1 the_AT opportunity_NN1 to_TO review_VVI what_DDQ I_PPIS1 had_VHD written_VVN at_II different_JJ times_NNT2 ,_, beginning_VVG in_II the_AT mid-l960s_NN2 ._. 
As_CSA I_PPIS1 flipped_VVD from_II article_NN1 to_II article_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 kept_VVD asking_VVG myself_PPX1 how_RRQ far_RR had_VHD I_PPIS1 strayed_VVN from_II where_RRQ I_PPIS1 started_VVD ?_? 
Was_VBDZ it_PPH1 like_II me_PPIO1 to_TO shuffle_VVI off_RP ideas_NN2 like_II an_AT1 ill-fitting_JJ coat_NN1 ?_? 
As_CSA I_PPIS1 read_VV0 and_CC skimmed_JJ and_CC remembered_VVD ,_, I_PPIS1 began_VVD to_TO see_VVI two_MC themes_NN2 at_II the_AT center_NN1 of_IO what_DDQ I_PPIS1 have_VH0 been_VBN writing_VVG for_IF more_DAR than_CSN four_MC decades_NNT2 ._. 
One_MC1 constant_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN my_APPGE skepticism_NN1 about_II pedagogical_JJ fads_NN2 ,_, enthusiasms_NN2 ,_, and_CC movements_NN2 ._. 
The_AT other_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN a_AT1 deep_JJ belief_NN1 in_II the_AT value_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 rich_JJ ,_, coherent_JJ school_NN1 curriculum_NN1 ,_, especially_RR in_II history_NN1 and_CC literature_NN1 ,_, both_DB2 of_IO which_DDQ are_VBR so_RG frequently_RR ignored_VVN ,_, trivialized_VVD ,_, or_CC politicized_VVD ._. 
Over_II the_AT years_NNT2 ,_, I_PPIS1 have_VH0 consistently_RR warned_VVN against_II the_AT lure_NN1 of_IO "_" the_AT royal_JJ road_NN1 to_II learning_NN1 ,_, "_" the_AT notion_NN1 that_CST some_DD savant_NN1 organization_NN1 has_VHZ found_VVN an_AT1 easy_JJ solution_NN1 to_II the_AT problems_NN2 of_IO American_JJ education_NN1 ._. 
As_II a_AT1 historian_NN1 of_IO education_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 have_VH0 often_RR studied_VVN the_AT rise_NN1 and_CC fall_NN1 of_IO grand_JJ ideas_NN2 that_CST were_VBDR promoted_VVN as_II the_AT sure_JJ cure_NN1 for_IF whatever_DDQV ills_NN2 were_VBDR afflicting_VVG our_APPGE schools_NN2 and_CC students_NN2 ._. 
Chapter_NN1 Five_MC The_AT Business_NN1 Model_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 In_II the_AT first_MD decade_NNT1 of_IO the_AT now_RT century_NNT1 ,_, New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 became_VVD the_AT national_JJ testing_NN1 ground_NN1 for_IF market-based_JJ reforms_NN2 ._. 
Mayor_NNB Michael_NP1 Bloomberg_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE chancellor_NN1 ,_, Joel_NP1 Klein_NP1 ,_, applied_JJ business_NN1 principles_NN2 to_TO overhaul_VVI the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE largest_JJT school_NN1 system_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ enrolled_VVD 1.1_MC million_NNO children_NN2 ._. 
Their_APPGE reforms_NN2 won_VVD national_JJ and_CC even_RR international_JJ acclaim_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 reorganized_VVD the_AT management_NN1 of_IO the_AT schools_NN2 ,_, battled_VVD the_AT teachers_NN2 '_GE union_NN1 ,_, granted_VVD large_JJ pay_NN1 increases_VVZ to_II teachers_NN2 and_CC principals_NN2 ,_, pressed_VVN for_IF merit_NN1 pay_NN1 ,_, opened_VVD scores_NN2 of_IO charter_NN1 schools_NN2 ,_, broke_VVD up_RP large_JJ high_JJ schools_NN2 into_II small_JJ ones_NN2 ,_, emphasized_VVD frequent_JJ practice_NN1 for_IF state_NN1 tests_NN2 ,_, gave_VVD every_AT1 school_NN1 a_AT1 letter_NN1 grade_NN1 ,_, closed_VVD dozens_NNO2 of_IO low-performing_JJ schools_NN2 ,_, and_CC institutionalized_VVD the_AT ideas_NN2 of_IO choice_NN1 and_CC competition_NN1 (_( albeit_CS without_IW vouchers_NN2 )_) ._. 
In_II 2007_MC ,_, only_RR five_MC years_NNT2 after_II mayoral_JJ control_NN1 of_IO the_AT schools_NN2 was_VBDZ authorized_VVN by_II the_AT state_NN1 legislature_NN1 ,_, New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 won_VVD the_AT Broad_JJ Prize_NN1 as_II the_AT most_RGT improved_JJ urban_JJ school_NN1 district_NN1 in_II the_AT nation_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT fall_NN1 of_IO 2001_MC ,_, media_NN mogul_NN1 Michael_NP1 Bloomberg_NP1 was_VBDZ elected_VVN mayor_NN1 of_IO New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 of_IO the_AT wealthiest_JJT men_NN2 in_II the_AT world_NN1 ,_, Bloomberg_NP1 had_VHD achieved_VVN renown_NN1 as_II a_AT1 businessman_NN1 and_CC philanthropist_NN1 ._. 
As_II a_AT1 candidate_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 vowed_VVD to_TO gain_VVI control_NN1 of_IO the_AT public_JJ schools_NN2 and_CC to_TO make_VVI them_PPHO2 successful_JJ ._. 
His_APPGE campaign_NN1 literature_NN1 maintained_VVD that_CST the_AT system_NN1 was_VBDZ "_" in_II a_AT1 state_NN1 of_IO emergency_NN1 "_" and_CC noted_VVD ,_, "_" remarkably_RR ,_, $12_NNU billion_NNO --_JJ 30%_NNU of_IO our_APPGE city_NN1 's_GE total_JJ expenditures_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 sum_NN1 greater_JJR than_CSN the_AT school_NN1 spending_VVG in_II Chicago_NP1 and_CC Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 combined_JJ --_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX enough_RR to_TO teach_VVI 1.1_MC million_NNO public_JJ school_NN1 students_NN2 or_CC to_TO provide_VVI safe_JJ ,_, clean_JJ and_CC appropriately_RR equipped_VVN school_NN1 facilities_NN2 ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 vowed_VVD to_TO remake_VVI the_AT system_NN1 with_IW management_NN1 reforms_NN2 ,_, incentives_NN2 ,_, merit_VV0 pay_NN1 ,_, testing_VVG ,_, and_CC accountability_NN1 ._. 
When_CS Bloomberg_NP1 ran_VVD for_IF mayor_NN1 ,_, the_AT schools_NN2 were_VBDR overseen_VVN by_II a_AT1 seven-member_JJ Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 which_DDQ was_VBDZ appointed_VVN by_II six_MC different_JJ elected_JJ officials_NN2 ._. 
Each_DD1 of_IO the_AT city_NN1 's_GE five_MC borough_NN1 presidents_NN2 (_( from_II Manhattan_NP1 ,_, Brooklyn_NP1 ,_, the_AT Bronx_NP1 ,_, Queens_NP1 ,_, and_CC Staten_NP1 Island_NNL1 )_) selected_VVD one_MC1 member_NN1 of_IO the_AT central_JJ board_NN1 ._. 
The_AT remaining_JJ two_MC members_NN2 of_IO the_AT board_NN1 were_VBDR appointed_VVN by_II the_AT mayor_NN1 ._. 
Since_CS this_DD1 arrangement_NN1 became_VVD law_NN1 in_II 1969_MC ,_, every_AT1 mayor_NN1 had_VHD sought_VVN to_TO regain_VVI the_AT power_NN1 to_TO select_VVI the_AT Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 ._. 
For_IF nearly_RR a_AT1 century_NNT1 prior_II21 to_II22 l969_FO ,_, the_AT city_NN1 's_GE mayors_NN2 had_VHD appointed_VVN every_AT1 single_JJ member_NN1 of_IO the_AT Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 ;_; usually_RR the_AT members_NN2 of_IO the_AT board_NN1 were_VBDR distinguished_JJ citizens_NN2 and_CC community_NN1 leaders_NN2 ._. 
Once_RR appointed_VVN ,_, however_RR ,_, the_AT board_NN1 was_VBDZ an_AT1 independent_JJ agency_NN1 ,_, and_CC its_APPGE members_NN2 had_VHD fixed_VVN terms_NN2 and_CC the_AT power_NN1 to_TO hire_VVI the_AT schoo1_FO superintendent_NN1 and_CC oversee_VVI his_APPGE policies_NN2 and_CC budget_NN1 ._. 
Mayor_NNB Bloomberg_NP1 did_VDD not_XX want_VVI an_AT1 independent_JJ board_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 wanted_VVD full_JJ ,_, direct_JJ control_NN1 of_IO the_AT schools_NN2 ,_, with_IW no_AT meddlesome_JJ board_NN1 to_II second-guess_JJ him_PPHO1 ._. 
In_II June_NPM1 2002_MC ,_, the_AT state_NN1 legislature_NN1 turned_VVD control_NN1 of_IO the_AT public_JJ school_NN1 system_NN1 over_RP to_II Bloomberg_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS promptly_RR established_VVD the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 (_( DOE_NP1 )_) to_TO manage_VVI the_AT schools_NN2 ._. 
The_AT legislation_NN1 continued_VVD a_AT1 central_JJ board_NN1 of_IO education_NN1 ,_, while_CS giving_VVG the_AT mayor_NN1 of_IO appointness_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS would_VM serve_VVI at_II his_APPGE pleasure_NN1 ;_; Bloomberg_NP1 renamed_VVD it_PPH1 the_AT Panel_NN1 for_IF Educational_JJ Policy_NN1 and_CC made_VVD clear_JJ that_CST he_PPHS1 considered_VVD it_PPH1 of_IO no_AT importance_NN1 ._. 
When_CS he_PPHS1 introduced_VVD the_AT members_NN2 at_II a_AT1 press_NN1 conference_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, "_" They_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI to_TO speak_VVI ,_, and_CC they_PPHS2 do_VD0 n't_XX have_VHI to_TO serve_VVI ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ what_DDQ 'serving_NN1 at_II the_AT pleasure'_JJ means_NN ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 sold_VVD the_AT Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 's_GE headquarters_NN in_II Brooklyn_NP1 to_II a_AT1 real_JJ estate_NN1 developer_NN1 and_CC moved_VVD the_AT new_JJ department_NN1 's_GE headquarters_NN to_II the_AT Tweed_NN1 Courthouse_NN1 ,_, adjacent_II21 to_II22 his_APPGE offices_NN2 at_II City_NN1 Hall_NN1 ._. 
Henceforth_RT ,_, the_AT shorthand_NN1 term_NN1 for_IF the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 Department_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 was_VBDZ simply_RR "_" Tweed_NP1 ._. "_" 
Thus_RR ,_, the_AT DOE_NP1 was_VBDZ housed_VVN in_II a_AT1 magnificent_JJ building_NN1 that_CST system_NN1 bolized_VVD the_AT infamous_JJ Tweed_NN1 Ring_NN1 ._. 
Moreover_RR ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ this_DD1 irony_NN1 :_: William_NP1 Marcy_NP1 Tweed_NP1 ,_, are_VBR the_AT boss_NN1 of_IO Tammany_NP1 Hall_NN1 ,_, had_VHD let_VVN the_AT effort_NN1 to_TO abolish_VVI the_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 in_II l87l_FO and_CC turn_VV0 the_AT school_NN1 system_NN1 into_II a_AT1 municipal_JJ department_NN1 ,_, making_VVG it_PPH1 easier_JJR to_TO control_VVI and_CC loot_NN1 ._. 
Boss_VV0 Tweed_NP1 's_GE Department_NN1 of_IO Public_JJ Instruction_NN1 banned_VVD the_AT purchase_NN1 of_IO books_NN2 from_II the_AT Harper_NP1 Brothers_NN2 publishing_VVG company_NN1 as_CSA punishment_NN1 for_IF Thomas_NP1 Nast_NP1 's_GE cartoons_NN2 lampooning_VVG the_AT Tweed_NN1 Ring_NN1 in_II Harper_NP1 's_VBZ Weekly_JJ ._. 
In_II 1873_MC ,_, after_CS the_AT Tweed_NN1 Ring_NN1 was_VBDZ exposed_VVN ,_, the_AT state_NN1 legislature_NN1 reestablished_VVD an_AT1 independent_JJ Board_NN1 of_IO Education_NN1 ,_, appointed_VVN by_II the_AT mayor_NN1 ._. 
And_CC from_II 1873_MC until_II 1969_MC ,_, the_AT mayor_NN1 appointed_VVN every_AT1 member_NN1 of_IO the_AT Central_JJ board_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 few_DA2 weeks_NNT2 after_CS he_PPHS1 gained_VVD control_NN1 ,_, Mayor_NNB Bloomberg_NP1 offered_VVD the_AT top_JJ education_NN1 job_NN1 in_II the_AT nation_NN1 's_GE largest_JJT city_NN1 to_II Joel_NP1 Klein_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 lawyer_NN1 who_PNQS had_VHD served_VVN as_CSA assistant_JJ attorney_NN1 general_JJ in_II the_AT Justice_NN1 Department_NN1 during_II the_AT Clinton_NP1 administration_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ Would_VM Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 Do_VDI ?_? 
My_APPGE favorite_JJ teacher_NN1 was_VBDZ Mrs._NNB Ruby_NP1 Ratliff_NP1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 is_VBZ the_AT teacher_NN1 I_PPIS1 remember_VV0 best_RRT ,_, the_AT one_PN1 who_PNQS influenced_VVD me_PPIO1 most_RRT ,_, who_PNQS taught_VVD me_PPIO1 to_TO love_VVI literature_NN1 and_CC to_TO write_VVI with_IW careful_JJ attention_NN1 to_II grammar_NN1 and_CC syntax_NN1 ._. 
More_DAR than_CSN fifty_MC years_NNT2 ago_RA ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ my_APPGE homeroom_NN1 teacher_NN1 at_II San_NP1 Jacinto_NP1 High_JJ School_NN1 in_II Houston_NP1 ,_, and_CC I_PPIS1 was_VBDZ lucky_JJ enough_RR to_TO get_VVI into_II her_APPGE English_JJ class_NN1 as_II a_AT1 senior_JJ ._. 
Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 was_VBDZ gruff_JJ and_CC demanding_VVG ._. 
She_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX tollerate_VVI foolishness_NN1 or_CC disruptions_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 had_VHD a_AT1 great_JJ reputation_NN1 among_II students_NN2 ._. 
When_CS it_PPH1 came_VVD time_NNT1 each_DD1 semester_NN1 to_TO sign_VVI up_RP for_IF classes_NN2 ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ always_RR a_AT1 long_JJ line_NN1 outside_II her_APPGE door_NN1 ._. 
What_DDQ I_PPIS1 remember_VV0 most_RRT about_II her_PPHO1 was_VBDZ what_DDQ she_PPHS1 taught_VVD us_PPIO2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 studied_VVD the_AT greatest_JJT writers_NN2 of_IO the_AT English_JJ language_NN1 ,_, not_XX their_APPGE long_JJ writings_NN2 like_II novels_NN2 (_( no_AT time_NNT1 for_IF that_DD1 )_) ,_, but_CCB their_APPGE poems_NN2 and_CC essays_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 read_VV0 Shakespeare_NP1 ,_, Keats_NP1 ,_, Shelley_NP1 ,_, Wordsworth_NP1 ,_, Milton_NP1 ,_, and_CC other_JJ major_JJ English_JJ writers_NN2 ._. 
Now_RT ,_, many_DA2 years_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, in_II times_NNT2 of_IO stress_NN1 or_CC sadness_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 still_RR turn_VV0 to_II poems_NN2 that_CST I_PPIS1 first_MD read_VVN in_II Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 's_GE class_NN1 ._. 
Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 did_VDD nothing_PN1 for_IF our_APPGE self-esteem_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 challenged_VVD us_PPIO2 to_TO meet_VVI her_APPGE exacting_JJ standards_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 think_VV0 she_PPHS1 imagined_VVD herself_PPX1 bringing_VVG enlightenment_NN1 to_II the_AT barbarians_NN2 (_( that_DD1 was_VBDZ us_PPIO2 )_) ._. 
When_CS you_PPY wrote_VVD something_PN1 for_IF her_APPGE class_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ happened_VVD with_IW frequency_NN1 ,_, you_PPY paid_VVD close_JJ attention_NN1 to_II proper_JJ English_NN1 ._. 
Accuracy_NN1 mattered_VVD ._. 
She_PPHS1 had_VHD a_AT1 red_JJ pen_NN1 and_CC she_PPHS1 used_VVD it_PPH1 freely_RR ._. 
Still_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ always_RR sure_JJ to_TO make_VVI a_AT1 comment_NN1 that_CST encouraged_VVD us_PPIO2 to_TO do_VDI a_AT1 better_JJR job_NN1 ._. 
Clearly_RR she_PPHS1 had_VHD multiple_JJ goals_NN2 for_IF her_APPGE students_NN2 ,_, beyond_II teaching_VVG literature_NN1 and_CC grammar_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ also_RR teaching_VVG about_II character_NN1 and_CC personal_JJ responsibility_NN1 ._. 
These_DD2 are_VBR not_XX the_AT sorts_NN2 of_IO things_NN2 that_CST appear_VV0 on_II any_DD standardized_JJ test_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 loved_VVD her_APPGE subject_NN1 ,_, and_CC she_PPHS1 enjoyed_VVD the_AT respect_NN1 the_AT students_NN2 showed_VVD her_PPHO1 ,_, especially_RR since_CS this_DD1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 large_JJ high_JJ school_NN1 where_RRQ students_NN2 did_VDD not_XX easily_RR give_VVI respect_NN1 to_II their_APPGE teachers_NN2 ._. 
Despite_II the_AT passage_NN1 of_IO years_NNT2 ,_, I_PPIS1 still_RR recall_VV0 a_AT1 class_NN1 discussion_NN1 of_IO Shelley_NP1 's_GE "_" Ozymandias_NN2 ,_, "_" and_CC the_AT close_JJ attention_NN1 that_CST thirty_MC usually_RR rowdy_JJ adolescents_NN2 paid_VVN to_II a_AT1 poem_NN1 about_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 and_CC a_AT1 place_NN1 we_PPIS2 could_VM barely_RR imagine_VVI ._. 
I_PPIS1 wonder_VV0 if_CS Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 has_VHZ her_APPGE counterparts_NN2 today_RT ,_, teachers_NN2 who_PNQS love_VV0 literature_NN1 and_CC love_VV0 to_TO teach_VVI it_PPH1 ,_, or_CC whether_CSW schools_NN2 favor_VV0 teachers_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 been_VBN trained_VVN to_TO elicit_VVI mechanical_JJ response_NN1 from_II their_APPGE students_NN2 about_II "_" text-to-self_NN1 connections_NN2 ,_, "_" "_" inferencing_VVG ,_, "_" "_" visualizing_VVG ,_, "_" and_CC the_AT other_JJ formalistic_JJ behaviors_NN2 so_RR loved_VVN by_II au_JJ21 courant_JJ22 pedagogues_NN2 ._. 
If_CS Mrs._NNB Ratliff_NP1 were_VBDR planning_VVG to_TO teach_VVI these_DD2 days_NNT2 ,_, I_PPIS1 expect_VV0 that_CST her_APPGE education_NN1 professors_NN2 and_CC supervisors_NN2 would_VM warn_VVI her_PPHO1 to_TO get_VVI rid_VVN of_IO that_DD1 red_JJ pen_NN1 ,_, to_TO abandon_VVI her_APPGE insistence_NN1 on_II accuracy_NN1 ,_, and_CC to_TO stop_VVI being_VBG so_RG judgmental_JJ ._. 
And_CC they_PPHS2 would_VM surely_RR demand_VVI that_CST she_PPHS1 replace_VV0 those_DD2 dated_JJ poems_NN2 and_CC essays_NN2 with_IW young_JJ adult_NN1 literature_NN1 that_CST teaches_VVZ adolescents_NN2 about_II the_AT lives_NN2 of_IO other_JJ adolescents_NN2 just_RR like_II themselves_PPX2 ._. 
At_II our_APPGE graduation_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 made_VVD a_AT1 gift_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 line_NN1 or_CC two_MC of_IO poetry_NN1 to_II each_DD1 of_IO the_AT students_NN2 in_II her_APPGE homeroom_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 got_VVD these_DD2 two_MC :_: "_" To_TO strive_VVI ,_, to_TO seek_VVI ,_, to_TO find_VVI ,_, and_CC not_XX to_TO yield_VVI ,_, "_" the_AT last_MD line_NN1 of_IO Tennyson_NP1 's_GE "_" Ulysses_NP1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ we_PPIS2 had_VHD read_VVN in_II class_NN1 ,_, and_CC "_" among_II them_PPHO2 ,_, but_CCB not_XX of_IO them_PPHO2 ,_, "_" from_II Byron_NP1 's_GE "_" Childe_NP1 Harold_NP1 's_GE Pilgrimage_NN1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ we_PPIS2 had_VHD not_XX read_VVN in_II class_NN1 ._. 
