Occupy a classroom, change education Occupy Wall Street’s non-
violent attempts to change the private sector suggest that
similar tactics can be applied to America’s public K-12
education system. This is an intriguing possibility given that
nationwide just two of three students graduate school on time.
Further, of those who do graduate on time, approximately one in
10 needs pullout remedial help, another one in 10 requires
special accommodations, and yet another one in 10 is under-
challenged. These numbers reveal an educational system that
works poorly for half the school-age population. For urban
areas, the numbers are worse. Since the 1950s, getting from a
system that educates some students well (let’s call it “A”) to
one that educates all students well (“B”) has been the preferred
outcome of countless reform efforts. During this time, while
attempt after attempt worked in an occasional classroom or
school, wide-scale achievement of B was elusive. Now, however, B
is achievable. Two sets of circumstances show