Show-And-Tell Time

If conservatives could craft a position (without standardized testing-which accomplishes nothing) whereby the good teachers themselves cannot be arbitrarily cast aside, then they may find the teachers joining their numbers.

This is drivel, and the kind of "adults-first" mentality that keeps the worst schools from improving. The only people that care about teachers' tenure is teachers, and it has nothing to do with kids' success. What other profession has "tenure" and is immune from performance reviews?

As much as Obama might want to support Rhee's experiment, it would be highly imprudent for him to publicly and squarely speak out against the teacher tenure, as Rhee calls it, the "holy grain of teachers' unions." Moreover, his support would be moral at best, which would not go that far in fighting what as already become a national union issue; a few ill-advised words from the new president would do much more harm than good.

the government hires 3 people to do the work of every 1 person in the private sector, and we're still more efficient , even with the government taking half our money. the only things that tear down our efficiency are the unions, because they are as lazy and corrupt as the government. the new president is beholden to larger government and unions. it's simple arithmetic: subtraction from the middle class bank accounts.

Obama can only do this if he takes on the powerful Teachers Unions. After all,why does Detriot[especially CHRYSLER],build such ''awful''cars,while the non-union manufacturers get props for manufacturing a decent ,cheaper,more gas efficient product? Obama,as he sends his kids off to a glitzy DC private school,will have to ponder this.,lest he become another in the long line of ''For Me,But Not For Thee'' types of characters.

b

What about making students accountable? Oh no, we can't have too many dropouts or schools will be punished by NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND!! What about making families accountable for school attendance? The students of inner city schools have "NO HOPE" in the looks of their eyes. Offer them job and money for achievement. I have examined the resume and papers of Linda Darling-Hammond. She is exceptional.

What about making students accountable.?..oh oh be careful we cant increase dropouts!! What about making families accountable?....Kids today are more intrested in Entertainment than Achievement....I have examined the resume and papers of Linda Darling-Hammond. Exceptional!!

The authors say, "If he backs Rhee's proposal, he will send a powerful signal to struggling inner-city schools that reform is possible. If he fudges or says nothing, it will be a signal that little will change for the poor and mostly black children in the capital's nearly dysfunctional apparatus."

It sounds like they've made up their minds that the Chancellor is right and anyone who disagrees is wrong and that Obama better get with the program if he wants to be successful.

Perhaps the authors are not familiar with how unpopular the Chancellor is becoming in DC for her heavy-handed ways that are not improving the situation and seem to be making it worse. Here are a few examples from recent Washington Post articles:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/11/rhee_more_principals_facing_th.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103222.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103225.html?tid=informbox

Perhaps the authors also don???t know that Obama???s success comes from being a community organizer, bringing disparate people together, inspiring hope, mutual responsibility and mutual accomplishment.

Chancellor Rhee seems to be the opposite ??? a community disorganizer, who operates independently and imperiously, alienating people at all levels and inspiring fear and distrust.

Here is a classic Rhee quote: ???I think if there is one thing I have learned over the last 15 months it???s that cooperation, collaboration and consensus-building are way overrated,??? she told the Aspen Institute???s education summit at the Mayflower Hotel. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dc/2008/09/rhee_who_needs_consensus.html
The same article points out that she has called herself a ???benevolent dictator???
Does any of this sound like something Obama would encourage?