my first day as a principal,

是我當校長的第一天，

but hardly my first day in the school district of Philadelphia.

但那天不是我在費城學區的第一天。

I graduated from Philadelphia public schools,

我從費城的公立學校畢業，

and I went on to teach special education for 20 years

接著教了特殊教育 20 年，

in a low-income, low-performing school

那是一所低收入、低水準的學校，

in North Philadelphia,

位於北費城，

where crime is rampant

那裡犯罪猖獗，

and deep poverty is among the highest in the nation.

收入不及聯邦貧窮線一半的人 居全國之冠。

Shortly after I walked into my new school,

就在我走進我的新學校後不久，

a huge fight broke out among the girls.

有一群女生大打出手，

After things were quickly under control,

情況快速得到控制後，

I immediately called a meeting

我立刻召集眾人

in the school's auditorium

在學校的禮堂開會，

to introduce myself as the school's new principal.

介紹我自己是這學校的新校長。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

I walked in angry,

我走進去的時候懷著怒氣，

a little nervous --

還有點緊張──

(Laughter) --

（笑聲）──

but I was determined

但我下定決心

to set the tone for my new students.

要給我的新學生下點馬威。

I started listing as forcefully as I could

我以我最強硬的聲調

my expectations for their behavior

開始列出我對他們行為的期望，

and my expectations for what they would learn in school.

對他們要在學校學什麼的期望。

When, all of a sudden,

突然，有個女孩

a girl way in the back of the auditorium,

在禮堂很後面的地方，

she stood up

她站了起來，

and she said, "Miss!

然後她說：「校長！校長！」

Miss!"

我們的目光鎖定後，她說：

When our eyes locked, she said,

「妳為什麼一直叫這裡學校？

"Why do you keep calling this a school?

這裡不是學校。」

This is not a school."

艾希莉用這句大爆發的話，

In one outburst,

表達了我曾有過的感受

Ashley had expressed what I felt

及那難以言喻的親身經驗，

and never quite was able to articulate

當時我唸的學校水準不高，

about my own experience when I attended a low-performing school

就位在同一個社區， 那是很久以前的事了。

in the same neighborhood, many, many, many years earlier.

那所學校絕對稱不上是學校。

That school was definitely not a school.

時間快轉十年到 2012 年，

Fast forwarding a decade later to 2012,

我第三度到低水準學校當校長。

I was entering my third low-performing school as principal.

我是草莓屋高中 四年來的第四個校長。

I was to be Strawberry Mansion's fourth principal in four years.

它被標為「低水準且持續危險」，

It was labeled "low-performing and persistently dangerous"

因為其低測驗分數、

due to its low test scores

高武器持有率、

and high number of weapons,

藥物持有率、施暴及逮捕率。

drugs, assaults and arrests.

就在我走近我新學校的大門

Shortly as I approached the door of my new school

並想要進入的時候，

and attempted to enter,

我立刻發現門是用鐵鍊鎖住的，

and found the door locked with chains,

我似乎可以聽見艾希莉的聲音

I could hear Ashley's voice in my ears

在我耳中迴繞：「校長！校長！

going, "Miss! Miss!

這不是學校！」

This is not a school."

學校的走廊又黑又暗， 因為照明不足。

The halls were dim and dark from poor lighting.

數不清的破舊辦公室傢俱

There were tons of piles of broken old furniture

和課桌椅堆在教室裡，

and desks in the classrooms,

還有成千上萬 未用過的教材及物品。

and there were thousands of unused materials and resources.

這不是學校。

This was not a school.

隨著學年推移，

As the year progressed,

我注意到教室幾乎空無一人。

I noticed that the classrooms were nearly empty.

學生都嚇死了：

The students were just scared:

嚇得不敢排排坐， 因為怕有什麼狀況發生；

scared to sit in rows in fear that something would happen;

嚇壞了因為他們常常在學校餐廳 被人譏笑吃免費食物。

scared because they were often teased in the cafeteria for eating free food.

他們怕死了那些打架，那些霸凌。

They were scared from all the fighting and all the bullying.

這不是學校。

This was not a school.

此外，還有老師，

And then, there were the teachers,

他們對自身的安危都嚇得要命，

who were incredibly afraid for their own safety,

所以他們對學生、 對自己的期望都很低，

so they had low expectations for the students and themselves,

他們也完全不知道自己的角色

and they were totally unaware of their role

能對這個崩壞的學校文化做什麼。

in the destruction of the school's culture.

這是最令人頭疼的部分。

This was the most troubling of all.

你看，艾希莉是對的，

You see, Ashley was right,

她說對的不僅是她的學校。

and not just about her school.

對太多太多的學校而言，

For far too many schools,

對活在貧窮的孩子而言，

for kids who live in poverty,

他們的學校真的稱不上是學校。

their schools are really not schools at all.

但是這可以改變。

But this can change.

讓我告訴你們在草莓屋高中 我們是怎麼做的。

Let me tell you how it's being done at Strawberry Mansion High School.

每個跟我共事過的人都會告訴你們

Anybody who's ever worked with me will tell you

我以口號著稱。

I am known for my slogans.

（笑聲）

(Laughter)

所以今天，我要說三個口號，

So today, I am going to use three

是我們在尋求改變時的最高原則。

that have been paramount in our quest for change.

第一個口號是：

My first slogan is:

如果你要領導，就好好領導。

if you're going to lead, lead.

我總是相信

I always believed

學校要做什麼、不要做什麼

that what happens in a school and what does not happen in a school

是由校長全權決定。

is up to the principal.

我是校長，

I am the principal,

既然有那樣的頭銜就要領導。

and having that title required me to lead.

我不要呆坐在辦公室裡，

I was not going to stay in my office,

我不要授權我的工作，

I was not going to delegate my work,

而我也不怕去處理

and I was not going to be afraid to address anything

對孩子不好的任何事情，

that was not good for children,

無論這是否讓我受歡迎。

whether that made me liked or not.

我是領導人，

I am a leader,

因此我知道我不能孤軍奮戰。

so I know I cannot do anything alone.

所以我組了一個頂尖的領導團隊，

So, I assembled a top-notch leadership team

這個團隊相信學童無窮的可能性，

who believed in the possibility of all the children,

我們一同合作解決一些小事，

and together, we tackled the small things,

像是親手重設 每一個衣物櫃的號碼鎖，

like resetting every single locker combination by hand

所以每個學生都有能上鎖的衣物櫃，

so that every student could have a secure locker.

我們布置了那座建築物裡的 每一面布告欄，

We decorated every bulletin board in that building

放上明亮鮮豔的色彩 及正面積極的話語。

with bright, colorful, and positive messages.

我們把學校前門的鎖鍊拿掉。

We took the chains off the front doors of the school.

我們更換燈泡，

We got the lightbulbs replaced,

我們還把每間教室 都打掃得乾乾淨淨，

and we cleaned every classroom to its core,

回收每一本、每一本 用不到的教科書，

recycling every, every textbook that was not needed,

並丟棄成千上萬的舊教材及傢俱。

and discarded thousands of old materials and furniture.

我們每天都裝滿兩大箱垃圾。

We used two dumpsters per day.

而且，理所當然，

And, of course, of course,

我們也處理大問題，

we tackled the big stuff,

像是重新編列學校的所有預算，

like rehauling the entire school budget

讓我們能重新分配專款 聘請更多老師及支援職員。

so that we can reallocate funds to have more teachers and support staff.

我們重新建立學校的日課表，

We rebuilt the entire school day schedule from scratch

增加了不同的開始及結束時間、

to add a variety of start and end times,

補救課程、 優異學生預修大專院校課程、

remediation, honors courses,

課外活動及輔導，

extracurricular activities, and counseling,

這些都在學校上課的時間完成。

all during the school day.

都在學校上課的時間完成。

All during the school day.

我們還做了一個調度表，

We created a deployment plan

指定每一個職員及警察

that specified where every single support person and police officer would be

每一天每一分鐘的崗位，

every minute of the day,

我們還監控每一天每一秒鐘的狀況，

and we monitored at every second of the day,

還有，我們最棒的發明

and, our best invention ever,

就是設計了一套全校紀律計畫，

we devised a schoolwide discipline program

名為「絕不妥協」。

titled "Non-negotiables."

這是一套行為系統——

It was a behavior system --

這是一套行為系統

designed to promote positive behavior at all times.

旨在隨時促進積極正面的行為。

The results?

結果如何？

Strawberry Mansion was removed from the Persistently Dangerous List

草莓屋高中 從持續危險的名單上除名，

our first year after being --

這是第一年──

(Applause) --

（掌聲）──

after being on the Persistently Dangerous List for five consecutive years.

是我們在持續危險名單上 五年之後的第一年。

Leaders make the impossible possible.

領導者讓不可能成為可能。

That brings me to my second slogan:

這帶出我的第二個口號：

So what? Now what?

那又怎樣？現在要怎麼辦？

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

When we looked at the data,

在我們看數據，

and we met with the staff,

並與職員會談的時候，

there were many excuses

會聽到好多藉口，

for why Strawberry Mansion was low-performing and persistently dangerous.

為什麼草莓屋高中 低水準又持續危險。

They said that only 68 percent of the kids come to school on a regular basis,

他們說只有 68% 的孩子 規律的到校上課，

100 percent of them live in poverty,

100% 家境窮困，

only one percent of the parents participate,

只有 1% 的家長會來學校，

many of the children

許多孩子

come from incarceration and single-parent homes,

來自受刑人家庭及單親家庭，

39 percent of the students have special needs,

39% 的學生為特殊兒童，

and the state data revealed

而州政府的數據顯示

that six percent of the students were proficient in algebra,

只有 6% 的學生熟練代數，

and 10 were proficient in literature.

10% 的學生熟練文學。

After they got through telling us all the stories

在他們滔滔不絕的對我們說完

of how awful the conditions and the children were,

家庭及學生狀況有多慘的故事之後，

I looked at them,

我看著他們，

and I said, "So what. Now what?

然後我說： 「那又怎樣？現在要怎麼辦？」

What are we gonna do about it?"

「我們要怎麼做？」

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Eliminating excuses at every turn became my primary responsibility.

處處排除藉口成了我的主要責任。

We addressed every one of those excuses

我們在強制的專業發展計畫中 討論每一項藉口的解決法，

through a mandatory professional development,

為全神貫注的教書及學習鋪路。

paving the way for intense focus on teaching and learning.

在多次觀察後，

After many observations,

我們判定老師知道要教什麼，

what we determined was that teachers knew what to teach

但是他們不知道要怎麼教

but they did not know how to teach

這麼多良莠不齊學生。

so many children with so many vast abilities.

所以，我們發展了一套教學法

So, we developed a lesson delivery model for instruction

專注在小組教學，

that focused on small group instruction,

想辦法在課堂裡 對所有的學生因材施教。

making it possible for all the students to get their individual needs met

結果如何？

in the classroom.

一年後，州政府數據顯示，

The results?

我們的代數分數成長了 171%，

After one year, state data revealed

文學分數成長了 107%。

that our scores have grown by 171 percent in Algebra

（掌聲）

and 107 percent in literature.

我們還有很長的路要走，

(Applause)

非常遙遠的路，但是我們現在用

We have a very long way to go,

「那又怎樣？現在要怎麼辦？」的心態 面對所有障礙。

a very long way to go,

這又帶出我的第三個 也是最後的口號。

but we now approach every obstacle with a "So What. Now What?" attitude.

（笑聲）

And that brings me to my third and final slogan.

如果今天沒有人告訴你他們愛你，

(Laughter)

你要記得我愛你， 而且我永遠都愛你。

If nobody told you they loved you today,

我的學生有很多問題：

you remember I do, and I always will.

社交、情緒、經濟上的各種問題，

My students have problems:

你想也想不到。

social, emotional and economic problems

有些學生已經是父母了，

you could never imagine.

有些則完全獨自生活。

Some of them are parents themselves,

如果有人問我我真正的秘密，

and some are completely alone.

到底我是怎麼 讓草莓屋高中繼續前進，

If someone asked me my real secret

我會說是因為我愛我的學生，

for how I truly keep Strawberry Mansion moving forward,

而且我相信他們的無限可能，

I would have to say that I love my students

無條件相信！

and I believe in their possibilities

當我看著他們，

unconditionally.

我眼裡只看見他們能成為什麼，

When I look at them,

那是因為我也走過他們的路。

I can only see what they can become,

我也在貧窮的北費城長大。

and that is because I am one of them.

我知道去上一所 稱不上學校的學校是什麼感覺。

I grew up poor in North Philadelphia too.

我知道那種總是懷疑

I know what it feels like to go to a school that's not a school.

到底有沒有辦法擺脫窮困的感覺。

I know what it feels like to wonder

但是因為我偉大的母親，

if there's ever going to be any way out of poverty.

我還能夢想，

But because of my amazing mother,

儘管我身在貧窮的環境之中。

I got the ability to dream

所以──

despite the poverty that surrounded me.

（掌聲）──

So --

如果我要督促我的學生

(Applause) --

朝著夢想及人生的標竿邁進，

if I'm going to push my students

我一定要了解他們的一切。

toward their dream and their purpose in life,

所以我得要花時間與他們相處，

I've got to get to know who they are.

所以我每天都去管理學校餐廳。

So I have to spend time with them,

（笑聲）

so I manage the lunchroom every day.

我在那裡的時候，

(Laughter)

我與他們談談非常私人的話題，

And while I'm there,

在他們生日的時候，

I talk to them about deeply personal things,

我就唱「生日快樂」，

and when it's their birthday,

即使我根本不會唱歌。

I sing "Happy Birthday"

（笑聲）

even though I cannot sing at all.

我常問他們，

(Laughter)

「你為什麼要我唱歌？ 我根本不會唱歌啊？」

I often ask them,

（笑聲）

"Why do you want me to sing when I cannot sing at all?"

他們就會說：

(Laughter)

「因為我們喜歡受到 特殊待遇的感覺。」

And they respond by saying,

我們每個月都開一次全員大會，

"Because we like feeling special."

聽聽他們的苦惱，

We hold monthly town hall meetings

找出他們心中的想法，

to listen to their concerns,

他們會問我們問題，像是： 「為什麼我們要遵守規定？」

to find out what is on their minds.

「為什麼有那麼多懲罰？」

They ask us questions like, "Why do we have to follow rules?"

「為什麼我們不能隨心所欲？」

"Why are there so many consequences?"

（笑聲）

"Why can't we just do what we want to do?"

他們問問題， 我就誠實的一一回答，

(Laughter)

而這種聆聽的交流 幫助我們澄清任何誤解。

They ask, and I answer each question honestly,

每一刻都是機會教育。

and this exchange in listening helps to clear up any misconceptions.

我得到的回饋，

Every moment is a teachable moment.

我得到的回饋，

My reward,

我對規則及懲罰 絕不妥協的態度上得到的回饋，

my reward

就是贏得他們的尊重。

for being non-negotiable in my rules and consequences

我在這方面很堅持，

is their earned respect.

而正因為如此， 我們能一同完成許多事。

I insist on it,

他們很清楚我對他們的期望，

and because of this, we can accomplish things together.

而我也每天透過學校廣播 重複著那些期望，

They are clear about my expectations for them,

我提醒他們──

and I repeat those expectations every day over the P.A. system.

（笑聲）

I remind them --

我提醒他們那些核心價值，

(Laughter)

就是專注、傳統、傑出、

I remind them of those core values

正直及堅毅，

of focus, tradition, excellence,

我也每天提醒他們

integrity and perseverance,

教育如何能真正改變他們的生活。

and I remind them every day

我總是用同樣的話結束我的廣播：

how education can truly change their lives.

「如果今天沒有人告訴你他們愛你，

And I end every announcement the same:

你要記得我愛你，

"If nobody told you they loved you today,

而且我永遠愛你。」

you remember I do,

艾希莉的話，

and I always will."

那句「校長！校長！

Ashley's words

這不是學校。」

of "Miss, Miss,

永遠都烙印在我心上。

this is not a school,"

如果我們真的要在

is forever etched in my mind.

解決貧窮上取得實質的進展，

If we are truly going to make real progress

那麼我們必須確保

in addressing poverty,

每一所貧困學區的學校，

then we have to make sure

都稱得上是真正的學校，