"A Very Good School"

January 4, 2009 5:11 AM

I am trying to locate a copy of a Charles Osgood column entitled "A very Good School". It is at least 15 years old and I have lost my original copy that was published in the local newspaper. Can you help?
posted by pamspanda to education (7 comments total)

Was it possibly "Pretty Good"?
(If not, more details might help to track it down.)
posted by Daily Alice at 7:26 AM on January 4

I can tell you that it was part of "The Osgood FIles" written in poem form and is "tongue in cheek" - yet so true that it "stings" your conscience. I am almost 100% sure the title was "A Very Good School". I hope this information helps.
posted by pamspanda at 7:53 AM on January 4

What is it about?
posted by amtho at 9:07 AM on January 4

amtho - the basis of the poem is that 2 + 2 really does not have to equal 4 because telling a child that it is the wrong answer giving them a failing grade would hurt their "self-esteem" - you can bend the rules - or just look the other way and give passing grades and in this society you would still have "a very good school". (A terrible thought!!!!)
posted by pamspanda at 11:50 AM on January 4

Click any of these links.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:38 PM on January 4

Maybe your local paper ran it under the title "A Very Good School," but "Pretty Good" fits your description.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:39 PM on January 4

Thank you, Pater Aletheias - this is the poem!!!!!
posted by pamspanda at 1:22 PM on January 4