When did mediocrity become ok?

A theme I'm finding to run throughout the book is the idea that mediocrity is no longer acceptable. Americans have become complacent. We've been taught we're the best, so we just are - no work is necessary to maintain this greatness.

This rang true for me when it comes to our education system. I remember attending the Model Schools Conference a few years ago and feeling this message throughout every session I attended. Even if your school is not on a warning list, even if it's making AYP, even if your students gets good grades, have great attendance, and graduate, it does not mean you're a great district. You could be mediocre. I remember a debriefing meeting we had when we came back from the conference and this was something I expressed to the group as an important lesson: good is the enemy of great. Average should not be acceptable when it comes to a child's education. Because H-H was not a struggling district, there was no external force pushing us to be greater. We were relying on teachers and their internal motivation to push themselves as teachers to be better. Now thankfully, part of what makes our district great is that we have teachers who are very involved, who are constantly striving to be better, and who take initiative. But I certainly know there are districts that are not so lucky.