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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book is the result of more than two years of support and assistance from family, friends, colleagues, sources, and readers of the Indianapolis Star. To everyone who played a part—and there are so many who did that I cannot name them all—you have my deepest appreciation. Most fundamentally, this book would not have been possible without the nearly complete access I was given to Emmerich Manual High School during the 2009/2010 school year. For that, I thank Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent Eugene White, former Manual principal Richard Grismore, and former dean Terry Hoover. I would also like to offer my gratitude to all of the teachers, staff, students, and parents who tolerated the sometimes-pesky presence of a newspaper columnist for nearly ten months. Thank you for sharing your stories, thoughts, praise, complaints, and, most of all, your time. I am fortunate to have now spent several years working for a pair of wonderful editors at the Star, Dennis Ryerson and Tim Swarens, who allowed me the luxury of writing thirty-four columns on one high school and championed my series every step of the way. Tim and Dennis, I couldn’t have done this without your expert guidance and support. I would like to pay a particular tribute to Danese Kenon, a talented photojournalist whose images always make my words look better, and to Andy Murphy, who worked hard to find a publisher for this book. Thanks also to the following people who provided insight into the book’s subject matter or agreed to read and critique various drafts of the manuscript: Suzanne Anthony, John Barrow, Scott Elliott, Jill Haughawout, Darolyn Jones, Cathy Knapp, Tammy Laughner,DanielLee,SpencerLloyd,JayMathews,KathleenO’Malley,Brendan O’Shaughnessy, Julie Steck, Brent Walls, Charles Walls, and Vickie Winslow. I greatly appreciate the effort and support of the staff at Indiana University Press and the methodical and caring work of copyeditor Jill R. Hughes. I was moved many times by the reaction to my series from readers of the Indianapolis Star. It’s easy to be cynical these days. But you weren’t, and your x acknowledgments support and heartwarming response to my columns week after week turned a project I had haphazardly undertaken into the professional highlight of my life. Youstrengthenedmylifelongloveaffairwithnewspapersandmadeadifference in the lives of many Manual High School students. Most important, I would like to thank my wife, Valerie, who pushed me to write this book, and my son, Reid, who in the first months of his life allowed me to read chapter after chapter to him while he played with his toys. I love you both. ...

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