Laura B
Chapter Summary:
Sometimes a hotbed is not ignited through the example of somebody who has "made-it." This chapter describes a charter school which became a hotbed for helping under-privileged students change their behavior, score high on state tests, and make it to college not because they were following someone's example, but because of the innovative ideas of two teachers who wanted to switch things up from the normal public school system. Their program, the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP), has seen so much success because the intense focus on detail, the mentality that everything is earned, and there constant talk about college, so that there is no doubt in the students' minds that college is their goal. Even though the outsider may see KIPP as being extreme in their practices, the students raise themselves to the challenges and enjoy being a part of KIPP. Each student transforms into a new person as they take on the KIPP identity that provides the fuel for all the hard work they do. This program proves that character is not something that is deep and unchanging, but rather a skill that can be honed through deep practice.
Key Concept: Character can be changed through self-discipline, meticulous attention to details, and consistent hard work.
Key Terms: KIPP, self-discipline, detail
Making Connections: With the goals that I have for myself, I need to practice self-discipline and attention to details so that I can achieve those goals.
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