Ah, DC education

The Washington Post today reported that the President of the University of the District of Columbia (a school that perfectly represents the pinnacle of the DC school system) is proposing ending the Education program at UDC because, well, all those teachers they're training can't, you know, read. Or write. Or do math. Seems like a good idea. However, education professor Elsie Williams (straight out of the "those who can't do, teach" school) thinks this is a bad idea stating: "I've only cried twice in my life--when I was born and once when my mother died--but I'm about to cry for UDC...Let's not drown the baby in the bath water."

I'll admit, as a transplant to the area, I'm not familiar with all these quirky regional idioms. So, maybe in DC, the expression really is "Don't drown the baby in the bath water" and maybe I'm showing my cultural ignorance when I laugh and say, "Surely the woman means 'Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.'" Nah.

On a more personal note, I am very moved by the professor's "about cry." As one who also has a heart of stone (and maybe no tear ducts), I have experienced a couple of "about cries" (wedding, child births, beating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the BYU arcade) and, let me tell you, my "about cries" are just as emotionally wrenching as regular person cries. (Maybe even harder because you have to stoically bear it alone while real criers get attention and hugs.) I feel for you Professor Williams.