cannal

We begin a pattern of almost immediate opinion-reversal and self-devouring.  Whatever the prevailing thinking, especially our own, we contradict it, reflexively.  We change our minds about Wendy Kopp, the young go-getter we heralded in the first issue, and her much-celebrated Teach for America.  Where we originally praised her gumption and her organization's goals - to bring young, enthusiastic, well-educated teachers into underprivileged schools for two years - now, in a 6,000-word piece that dominates the second issue, we fault the nonprofit for attempting to solve inner-city problems, largely black problems, with white upper-middle-class college-educated solutions.  'Paternalistic condescension,' we say.  'Enlightened self interest,' we sigh.  'Noblesse oblige,' we sneer.  We quote a professor summing it up: 'A study of Teach for America tells us more about the ideological, even psychological needs of today's middle-class white and minority youth than it does about the underclass to whom the project is targeted.'

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Dave Eggers

On spring break, late nights, probably too much beer, girl talk mixed with swing sets and probably too much beer, sleeping in, sundresses, first birthday parties, napping with cats, healing tattoos, seeing wilco for the third time, and spending late nights with friends:

Yes.