Before suburban schools were allowed to prey on and profit from an urban school’s misfortunes.

Before large buses lumbered down narrow residential lanes to transport our littlest learners from the shadow of their local school to another across town, where all the other littlest students were gathered for more “cost-effective” education.

Before schools shuffled off low-achieving students to alternative schools in order to elevate their ranking on standardized test scores.

Before teachers based their lessons more on test preparation than learning.

Before education resegregated through specialized charter schools with non-inclusive curricula.

Before public schools were barred from beginning their instructional days before Labor Day, or whenever their community thought it best for the education of its students.

Back to a time when pedagogy more than politics planned and delivered education.