4,100 Students Prove 'Small is Better' Rule Wrong

A decade ago, Brockton High School was a case study in failure. Then Susan Szachowicz and a handful of fellow teachers decided to take action. They persuaded administrators to let them organize a schoolwide campaign that involved reading and writing lessons into every class in all subjects, including gym.Their efforts paid off quickly. In 2001 testing, more students passed the state tests after failing the year before than at any other school in Massachusetts. The gains continued. This year and last, Brockton outperformed 90 percent of Massachusetts high schools.Sam Dillon, New York Times, Sept. 28, 2010