"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Fenty and Rhee Conjure Hurricane for DC Schools

From WaPo:
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee are discussing a dramatic expansion of their effort to remove ineffective teachers by restoring the District's power to create nonunionized charter schools and seeking federal legislation declaring the school system in a "state of emergency," a move that would eliminate the need to bargain with the Washington Teachers' Union.

If adopted, the measures would essentially allow the District to begin building a new school system. Such an effort would be similar to one underway in New Orleans, where a state takeover after Hurricane Katrina placed most of the city's 78 public schools in a special Recovery School District. About half of the district's schools are charters, and it has no union contract. . . .

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous4:17 PM

    I don't know how you find all this stuff, but I thank you for uncovering these important incremental steps the GOP wants to put in place to bring the free market, small government poison to our educational system. It seems they've read Naomi Kline's Shock Doctrine, and using it as their blue print, are attempting to push it to get the results they want.

    It's funny how important developments, like the failing charter schools in Minn. and unlicensed teacher, rarely gets the coverage it should. I used it at my blog.

    Thanks again.

    ReplyDelete