cover image Tell Them We Are Rising: A Memoir of Faith in Education

Tell Them We Are Rising: A Memoir of Faith in Education

Ruth Wright Hayre. John Wiley & Sons, $24.95 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-471-12679-9

In 1988, Hayre, a retired educator and school administrator, told an audience of parents and teachers at a graduation ceremony at an elementary school in inner-city Philadelphia that she would cover the tuition of every child in the class who graduated from high school and was accepted at an accredited college. She called her program ""Tell Them We Are Rising""--a quote from one of her ancestors--and called the children her Risers. The book, coauthored with Moore, a member of the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer, is divided into two parts: the story of Hayre's life and career in education and an account of the Risers program. Though her life story is inspiring, it would have profited from lengthier treatment; many important and interesting events are dealt with only briefly. But the second half is riveting. Hayre stayed personally involved with the Risers during their school years, setting up weekly ""Risers' Club"" meetings and a mentoring program. The book presents the children's individual stories and reports in a clear-eyed manner on the triumphs and failures of the program. Throughout, Hayre's personal philosophy of life and of education shows through. If at times her tone seems a bit arch, one feels she's earned the right to be blunt. Highly recommended. (July)