Table of Contents

"Tell Them We Are Rising." Root and Branch: The Family Tree. My Educational Odyssey. A Philadelphia Story. The Climb to the Boardroom. Not What We Give but What We Share. The Leap of Faith. Getting to Know You. The Mentors. The Pregnancy Problem. Mission Accomplished. The Risers. What I Have Learned. A Last Word. Index.

About the Author

RUTH WRIGHT HAYRE (1910-1998) was the first full-time African American teacher in the Philadelphia public school system, the first African American senior high school principal, and the first female president of the Philadelphia Board of Education. For her advocacy programs in support of urban teenagers in Philadelphia, Ms. Hayre received honors and awards from dozens of local and national organizations, including the University of Pennsylvania and the NAACP. ALEXIS MOORE is a journalist and a member of the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Reviews

"A superb, authentically American tale."--The New York Times Education Supplement "An inspiring account of an African-American educator determined to make a difference in the lives of indifferent students."--Kirkus Reviews "A heart-warming story about struggle, survival and achievement. What more could one ask? A good story told with a deft hand."--William Gray III, President, United Negro College Fund

"A superb, authentically American tale."--The New York Times Education Supplement "An inspiring account of an African-American educator determined to make a difference in the lives of indifferent students."--Kirkus Reviews "A heart-warming story about struggle, survival and achievement. What more could one ask? A good story told with a deft hand."--William Gray III, President, United Negro College Fund

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)