Small glimpses of insight from the new administration lately are getting my hopes up, if only slightly, about effective changes in education.
First was the appointment of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. He's no Michelle Rhee, but Duncan has shown a willingness to stand up to the unions. He has been open to reforms that the unions are totally against, including school choice, pay-for-performance and closing down failing schools. And Duncan may have more influence than the average cabinet member -- he and the president are personal friends and have common bonds in the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago. So BO might be listening when Duncan voices his bold opinions.
"It's morally inexcusable that children who happen to be born in wealthier communities... get a better education than those who live in poor communities," Duncan told TIME magazine last August. "Clearly, [in Illinois], we've lacked the political courage to fundamentally challenge the status quo, not just tweak it at its edges... It doesn't need a tweak. It needs a fundamental change."
And just yesterday at the "on-line" townhall meeting, Obama didn't just give lip service to teacher performance -- he actually pressed a long-time educator as to whether or not in her 15 years teaching, she has worked with anyone who she would not want to teach her own children. Of course, she refused to answer, but the President did not let the evasiveness stop him from making a needed observation.
"My point is that if we've done everything we can to improve teacher pay and teacher performance and training and development, some people just aren't meant to be teachers... At some point, they've got to find a new career," he said.
The President has also been talking up charter schools -- is it too great a leap to think that vouchers could be next? Will he point out that there are classmates at his daughters' school who are there thanks to vouchers? Will he swoop in and not only save the D.C. voucher program, but ignite new programs across the country? I'm not holding my breath, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Obama stands in the unique position of being able to garner bipartisan support and stand up for black children across our nation, the community which would most benefit from radical changes in education. He could come to the rescue of children of all races in the poorest cities and the most poorly run school systems.
What say you, Mr. President? Will you choose change over politics? Will you bring hope to millions? Go ahead, make their school day.
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And while we on the subject of school choice, here's an editorial "Why We Must Fight for School Choice" by Virginia Walden Ford, executive director of D.C. Parents for School Choice, seen below. http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NGRlMWE3YzAzZWRlNjY1MjQ2ZmJkYjAyN2QzZjYwMzI=
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