Emily Dickinson was hip to hope, more than a century ago. These days, as the parent of a high school senior who will graduate in a new millennium, I’m familiar with the fluttering feeling of hope, too.
As I watch my son spread his wings, I take comfort in knowing that he has been well served, these past dozen years, by an urban school system. He’s been guided by many competent teachers and a few stellar ones. His public high school, sitting on the edge of downtown Portland, routinely produces graduates who not only go on to some of the best colleges in the nation, but thrive there. So there’s plenty of reason for optimism.
Across the country, and even in our own corner of the continent, city schools don’t always fare so well. I often hear friends who are raising their children in Los Angeles or New York fret about private tuition and rigorous admissions tests for high schools, elementary schools, and even preschools. Why? Because they have lost hope in their public schools.
In this issue devoted to urban education, Northwest-style, we’ve deliberately sought to tell stories with a positive spin. It’s not that we’re blind to the struggles facing many city schools, or ignorant of the hardships of families in impoverished urban neighborhoods. Rather, we’re taking a cue from what research and teacher anecdotes reveal: Building on the strengths of city kids is the approach most likely to help them thrive, even if they face challenges at home, in their communities, or in the classroom.
Here, then, is a collection of hopeful stories from throughout the region. You’ll meet a big-city superintendent who’s an unabashed cheerleader for urban schools. You’ll hear about a millionaire who’s investing in the education of some of his community’s poorest students. You’ll read about the creative ways one urban district is recruiting new teachers, reminding them that, in the spectacular Northwest, "wilderness is only a mountaintop away." You’ll visit a community program that puts its arms around children to shelter them from risks and help them achieve academic success. Along the way, you’ll meet some remarkable city kids. Many were born in the Northwest, others have traveled around the globe to make their home here. Their ideas and energy should give all of us reason to stay hopeful about the future.
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Date of Last Update: 9/28/01 
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