MARGARET TALBOT

Suburbanites are not a demographically coherent group, and they do not vote as a bloc; their political values range from NPR-liberal to Fox-conservative. But it is reasonable for the practical politician to bet that people who live in the suburbs share a less passionate commitment to the Progressive ideal of decent city schools than did their urban predecessors. They may care deeply about their local public school, but they don't necessarily care about public schools in general.

Suburbanites are not a demographically coherent group, and they do not vote as a bloc; their political values range from NPR-liberal to Fox-conservative. But it is reasonable for the practical politician to bet that people who live in the suburbs share a less passionate commitment to the Progressive ideal of decent city schools than did their urban predecessors. They may care deeply about their local public school, but they don't necessarily care about public schools in general.