There’s a cool editorial here about different programs in Chicago schools that keep kids engaged.

While I whole-heartedly agree with the premise — if school kids have one thing they look forward to, be it computers, music, sports, comic books, or one great class, they’ll perform better — there’s a false note in the opening paragraphs:

In most communities, students attend school every day because they are convinced that educational achievement is essential to their future success.

There are many reasons why kids go to school — socializing, parental pressure — but future success? That feels like an adult category that kids will make a nod towards without really buying it.