In the commentary "Albany's 2020 Vision," Sept. 8, Albany's School Superintendent, Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, aka Dr. V, laid out her plan to alter the "troubling systemic issues" that keep "our African-American and Hispanic students, students with disabilities and poor students" from achieving strong results.
I appreciate Dr. V for her visibility and access to the community. I also appreciate her message that she is committed to Albany's school district and not a fly-by superintendent. She has said that her fourth-grader is enrolled in the city district and that she is looking forward to watching her graduate from Albany High School.
As a parent who also enrolled her child in an Albany city school years ago, I continue to take a keen interest in the district. I am retired.
Dr. V has set an "American exceptionalism" goal. I would be pleased with a turnaround — a slow but steady increase to the graduation numbers from Albany High School. Why try to become "the best urban school district in America by 2020?" Such a goal places unproductive — impossible — pressures on our students, parents, teachers, school board and superintendent.
The most worthwhile, nuanced discussion I've heard about education was an hourlong discussion of improving schools on "This American Life," a radio program hosted by Ira Glass titled "Back to School" that aired Sept. 14, 2012. I suggest you listen to it online.
Carol Tansey
Albany