Michelle Rhee has been heralded by some as an education reformer. I tend to think of her as part of the problem. When education becomes a product, something to be bought and sold, we've lost. Also too, more tests. A recent report by USA Today reveals that perhaps the touted test results in the district while Rhee was in charge weren't without cheating.
Rhee's response:
“It isn’t surprising that the enemies of school reform once again are trying to argue that the earth is flat and that there is no way test scores could have improved for DCPS students unless someone cheated,” Rhee said. “It is surprising to see USA Today proceed down this path in the face of a statement from the independent investigators that there was no evidence of cheating. This story is an insult to the dedicated teachers and schoolchildren who worked hard to improve their academic achievement levels.”
As Oliver Willis states, this is the kind of response you would expect from the right-wing. More importantly though, as someone who is in education Rhee should have responded with concern and openness A.K.A. "an educated response". That. Did. Not. Happen.
It's important to note that once Rhee exited her position in DC she went on to found StudentsFirst. At first glance the organization doesn't seem to be about putting students first, however more about putting Rhee first...
When people talk about reform there is often a lot of talk about students, parents, teachers, unions and tests. You really don't hear the word education at all. If people spent more time focusing on educating and less about who is to blame, maybe we'd get somewhere. It would be nice to have honest reform, Michelle Rhee doesn't seem to be up to the task.
I am Frank Chow and I approved this message
No comments:
Post a Comment