Suggestions on Becoming a Positive Deviant

In the final section of his book, "Better", Dr. Atul Gawande offers five suggestions for how we might make a worthy difference, or in other words how we might become "positive deviant." These are:
(1) Ask an unscripted question. Seek to learn something about others by asking questions.
(2) Don't complain. We all have plenty to carp about, but resist the temptation to complain.
(3) Count something. One should be a scientist in one's world. Whatever that world is, one should count something.
(4) Write something. It makes no diffrence whether you write five paragraphs for a blog, a paper for a professional journal, or a poem for a reading group. Just write.
(5) Change. Make yourself an early adopter. Look for the opportunity to change.

The Difference between Good and Great

One of the books that I had the chance to read during my Sabbath Leave this past summer was a book entitled "Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance" by Dr. Atul Gawande. One of the things that Gawande shares in the book is that the difference between being good and great is that great is being consistently good.

Record Improvements in Baltimore Graduation and Dropout Rates Reported

The record, three-year gains Baltimore City Public Schools reported in its dropout and graduation rates earlier this month were largely driven by the academic progress of its African American male students, new data show. City Schools’ overall dropout rate is down 56 percent and its graduation rate is up 10 percent in the last three years. According to district analysis, the gains for African American male students during this time outpaced the district rates: Their dropout rate is down 59 percent, and their graduation rate is up 12.4 percent. Local leaders and national education experts are hailing the Baltimore findings as an important exception to what have been troubling national trends for this group of students.

The number of African American male dropouts in City Schools decreased from 1,439 in 2006-07 to 593 in 2009-10. At the same time, the number of African American male graduates increased from 1,537 in 2006-07 to 1,724 in 2009-10. The bottom line: In 2006-07, City Schools had nearly equal numbers of African American male dropouts and graduates; by 2009-10 the district had nearly three times as many graduates as dropouts among African American males.

(Excerpt from Press Release issued by Baltimore City Public Schools (10/20/10))

Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Church

But despite these notable exceptions, I must honestly reiterate that I have been disappointed with the church. I do not say this as one of those negative critics who can always find something wrong with the church. I say this as a minister of the gospel, who loves the church; who was nurtured in its bosom; who has been sustained by its spiritual blessings and who will remain true to it as long as the cord of life shall lengthen.


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Tea Party Report

Recently, the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR) released a report which documents specific examples of Tea Party leaders and Tea Party-associated organizations providing platforms for racists, and religious and other bigots.

The report serves as a reminder of the very real and active presence of racism and other forms of discrimination in America's public sphere, and that there are significant threats to moving forward and effecting real change in American life.

Please take a moment to read more from the report:

http://action.naacp.org/TeaPartyReport