Q: Why do you call it the “Pittsburgh Plan?”
A: Some people name their plans after glamorous locales for no reason other than to capitalize upon our national fascination with the rich and famous. In a sense, they are trying to sell books under false pretenses. After all, what exactly does the “South Beach Diet” have to do with South Beach? Other people name their plans after themselves (the “Pritikin Diet,” etc.), possibly for reasons having to do with ego. On those theories, we could have named our plan the “Beverly Hills System.” But our objectives are a little different. We want to help children become smart!
What does all of this have to do with Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh is a craggy city, lacking in sophistication and glamour, but it is also a city of strong families and neighborhoods, populated by hard-working parents who will do almost anything to help their children have a shot at a better life. If you want a glamorous plan, if you want to spend money rather than time on your child, if you want your child’s education to reflect your social status and privilege, then you should look elsewhere. If you just want results and are willing to work for them, then you are at heart a Pittsburgher and you have come to the right place. You have come to the “Pittsburgh Plan.”
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