ABSTRACT
Several years ago I led a group of secondary students from Boston on a literary and theater tour of London. Shortly before leaving, one of my tenth graders confided her anticipated fear of overexposure to cultural sites and angst that we might not be able to accommodate her wide range of shopping interests. Sarah1 was a capable student, but completely disengaged from academics; she slid by, meeting the minimum requirements. She spoke articulately about All My Children and As the World Turns, two of her favorite afternoon soap operas, and faithfully recorded television programs she was unable to watch during the day, sacrificing sleep to watch taped episodes late into the night. Nevertheless, Sarah had fulfilled her requisite preparation for the trip. She attended weekly after-school seminars (not without complaints), raised funds, and finally led a presentation on the Tower of London. She had earned her right to go. Fair is fair.
