By WAYNE GREENE Senior Writer on Aug 19, 2009, at 8:28 AM Updated on 8/19 at 8:28 AM
WAYNE'S WORLD
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Next year in Jerusalem.
Yesterday's announcement that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had rejected the Tulsa schools proposal for a $55.6 million grant to reshape the way the district hires, pays, retains and assigns teachers was a painful loss.
I had my hopes up in a way that I normally don't in public policy issues. (If you want to know more about the plan you can read this story Andrea Eger wrote about it or this column I wrote Sunday.)
The Gates Foundation decision reminds me a bit of the feeling of seeing your team lose a really big football game. You invest so much hope and optimism in the prospect of winning, and never really consider the possibility of not.
I can only imagine what it must have been like for the coach, Superintendent Keith Ballard.
I've seen my teams lose a lot of football games that I really wanted them to win over the years. One time after a particularly disappointing loss, I was trying to interview a fan about the feeling, and he asked me what it was I expect him to say.
I thought about it a second and said: "We played hard. It didn't work out for us this time, but we're proud of the team anyway. They represented us well, and we'll get 'em next year."
Which is what he said back to me.
They say that losing builds character, but I think it actually only reveals character. I've seen asses lose games and become bigger asses. I've seen other fans, those with character, resolve to cheer harder next time.
That's about all Keith Ballard can say in this situation: We tried hard. We're proud of the effort, and stand by it. It didn't work out today, but there's always tomorrow. We'll find a way.
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