We continue with the story of Irving Elementary, and hear what's happened to make Cathy La Luz think about quitting. In just nine months, the reforms that had made the school a model began to unravel. Well-meaning directives from the central school board undermined what the school was trying to do. And the new principal didn't quite understand why the teachers were balking at seemingly small things like writing up lesson plans. The climate in the school changes. The principal is oblivious. The head of the Chicago schools, Arne Duncan, says he'll look into the problems. Cathy's skeptical. (28 minutes)



© Copyright NPR® 1994, 1995. The news reports by Ira Glass were originally broadcast on National Public Radio's All Things Considered® on December 21, 1994, March 17, 1995, May 17th, 1995, and April 14, 1995, respectively, and are used with the permission of National Public Radio, Inc. Any unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited.