When Hollywood tells the story of the tough-yet-compassionate principal who takes over the troubled inner-city school, it all turns out well in the end. The principal defies the skeptics, discipline is enforced and low-achieving kids who always had the potential begin to succeed.
The recent history of San Diego's Lincoln High School and its charismatic principal, Ruby Cremaschi-Schwimmer, allows us to fast-forward to reality. Cremaschi-Schwimmer was handpicked by Supt. Tom Payzant in 1986 for the monumental task of re-making Lincoln, one of the city's most troubled schools.
Four years ago, Lincoln had the district's second-worst test scores and second-highest dropout rate. More than 1,000 students were commuting to other city schools, leaving behind a far smaller number willing to send their children to the sagging neighborhood school.
Cremaschi-Schwimmer called her challenge "a sacred mission" and attacked it with corresponding zeal. She became the school's motivator, cheerleader, disciplinarian and advocate. Attendance increased when she persuaded Latino and Indochinese parents to send their children to the largely black school. The campus was rid of graffiti, and fences were put up to keep out undesirables. The dropout rate declined. The curriculum was revamped to emphasize college preparatory courses.
