I skewed it left because it seeks to divert the blame from the students. It frequently refers to probability and chance. (“[G]raduating from high school in America’s largest cities amounts, essentially, to a coin toss.”)
While I readily acknowledge the strong effects an environment can have on a person, I think it’s safe to say that if most students wanted to graduate, they would. Sure, we can do a better job at getting them qualified teachers and decent books, but even barring that, there are other resources out there. When I go to the library, all the kids are doing on the computers is surfing MySpace and YouTube. We have to shake off the idea that every problem we have is the fault of someone else, and start taking some responsibility for our own lives.