This video is a vivid demonstration of the public school as the heart and anchor of the community.
Mickey Reynolds, principal of Lake Mary High School in Seminole County, Florida, surprised everyone by joining the school’s step dancing team and putting in a very creditable performance. The students in the stands and on the floor of the school gym roared with delight as Ms. Reynolds kept up with her students. She is a trouper!
Lake Mary High School is no fly-by-night. It has been at the center of its community since 1981-82. Take a look at its comprehensive program.
This is public education.
This is a School for all the people’s children.
Betsy DeVos. You lose.
Try step dancing with students.
My money is on Ms. Reynolds.
Ms. Reynolds, thanks for reminding us that the experience of school is about fun and games as well as academics.
For your courage and good humor in daring to step dance with those beautiful students, I name you to the honor roll of this Blog!
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education and commented:
Sometimes we just do things for the community and the kids.
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Is that you? Great! Love it!!
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Yes that is me. I told my teacher and students that if they raised a certain amount they could paint my hair pink. If they raised more they could shave it and paint it. It was a shave and paint. Had to stand in the sidelines of a football game with 40degree temp for 3 hours without a hat. I had to wash it out before bed. It was all for breast cancer awareness.
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Go Ms. Reynolds! This video captures the strong spirit & enthusiasm found in public schools across our country!!
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The ALEC and Walton family autocrat supported kleptocracy will not like that. Such a waste of money that could go into their pockets instead.
The kleptocrats are into child abuse. All we have to do is watch a video of the children at a Success Academe walking in straight lines in the hallways with their cheeks full of air and their mouths closed to hold in that air so they can’t talk between classes.
The kleptocrats are into working children to death and cutting out laughter and fun like this.
To the kleptocrats, it’s all about profits. Not about kids growing up being kids. To the kleptocrats, laughter is unproductive.
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Students in this high school have a dizzying array of “choices” that would satisfy even the choosiest of parents or students. As I have stated many times before, many public schools offer far more options for students than any charter ever could. They offer a comprehensive program to students so students can develop their skills in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Education should be about much more than reading and math, and it should allow students to try different courses so they may become well-rounded, responsible adults. Part of an education involves some self discovery as well.
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Ravitch:
Or put into other words, school is also about building relationships and developing student personality, identity, and connection (in addition to the conventional academics) and having a little fun is a way to do that.
Building relationships, personality, identity, connection are not measured by standardized tests, or any other way that matters to Bill Gates.
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That’s exactly what Principal Reynolds was doing: building relationships.
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Okay, even cynical ol’ me got a kick out of that one. Thanks, Diane.
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I loved it!
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“Work like you don’t need the money. Dance like no one is watching. And love like you’ve never been hurt.” [Mark Twain]
Go, Ms. Reynolds!
😎
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