Teacher Man

I am reading this very interesting book Teacher Man by Frank McCourt (author of Angela's Ashes). It is autobiographical about his teaching career. I am now in the section where he teaches English to teenagers in a "vocational and technical school" in New York City. The students from this school are working class children and are never meant to go to college. McCourt is hauled up by the guidance counsellor because he encouraged one of the girls to go to college. I quote the guidance counsellor from the book:

"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, but you better make sure they have something to grasp. Don't create impossible dreams..."

I pondered about this quote and found it profound even though I am unsure whether I should agree with it. Should teachers be responsible for creating impossible dreams? Should we really make sure they have something to grasp? Who is responsible for possibility? Doesn't impossible dreams create possibility?

As I struggle with a bunch of 8th standard boys (this is their last year in this school and we are trying our best to prepare them for the "mainstream"), the above questions are not academic but existential.

Your thoughts?
I posted this on my M.A.Education forum and one wise man replied to it..I am quoting his reply here
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Yes, the quote is profound. It reminds one of Tsar Nicholas stating that no man should be educated beyond his station or even of Manu when he puts a ban on shudras studying veda, though is couched in more humanitarian terms.

Education is about creating dreams and ability to make those dreams real. This business of creating dreams and requisite abilities is not always very neat, it is mostly messy--dreams running away alone or abilities remaining dormant, etc. Teachers should refrain from playing God and controllers of destiny. They should definitely try to fire imagination and have faith in the basic rationality of the students to create the balance between dreams and capabilities.

While writing all this I am aware the problems unrealisable dreams could cause in terms of the emotional upheavals and happiness of the student. But, we should remember that humans are much more than we can ever estimate them in their abilities and the world is much more unpredictable then we think it is. Therefore, to determine which dreams are realisable and which are not may not be possible for the teachers.

Also, even making "sure that they have something to grasp" involves dreams.