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

Monday, February 15, 2016

Will KIPP's Levin Be the New British Inspector of Schools?

The Independent reports that the British Secretary of Education, Nicky Morgan, is considering hiring Mr. Positivity, Dave Levin, to direct inspections of British schools.  No, I am not kidding. 

As you might imagine, British educators are ready to move with torches and pitchforks. 
. . . .Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, suggested Ms Morgan should take her search to Finland.

“[Finland] is universally agreed to have an excellent education system, characterised by co-operation, collaboration and trust,” she said. “A far cry from the charter school ethos of the US.”

The hunt for a replacement for Sir Michael Wilshaw, who stands down from Ofsted in December, is said to have taken in the US, Canada and northern Europe.

New York City’s schools watchdog and three bosses of American school groups are understood to be under consideration for the job.

Ms Morgan is said to be looking for a chief inspector with a history of forcing through education reforms against resistance from unions.

Her favourite candidate is said to be Mr Levin, co-founder of the KIPP group. The group, which was praised by Ms Morgan’s predecessor Michael Gove, runs a network of US “charter schools”. Like academies, these are publicly funded but operate independently of local government. . . .

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