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I was curious if anyone plans to see this documentary, and what your thoughts on education reform are.
"Waiting For Superman" premiers in many large cities this Friday. If you order your ticket via their website (Waiting For "Superman" | Trailer & Official Movie Site | Pledge Now), $15 will be donated to the school of your choice.
The movie chronicles the sorry state of our education system, and puts the blame squarely where it belongs: The teachers unions and school boards that refuse to accept any innovation in education. It also features interviews with a number of prominent reformists, including Michelle Rhee, Geoffrey Canada, and Bill Gates.
As a DC resident, I'm a big fan of Michelle Rhee and everything she has done to improve DC's public schools. By firing incompetent teachers and confronting the teachers unions, she managed to raise DC's proficiency scores from 29% to 43% in only three years. That's why I was so sad when Adrian Fenty lost his mayoral reelection bid this past Tuesday; he has given Rhee his unqualified support. I hope that the new mayor will keep Michelle Rhee, but I fear that he will not.
I'm glad that Obama and Arne Duncan have decided to confront the teachers' unions head-on. Race To The Top is a great new federal program buried in the economic stimulus bill, that rewards the states most willing to innovate in education. It will encourage states to allow merit pay and charter schools.
What are your thoughts on education reform?
"Waiting For Superman" premiers in many large cities this Friday. If you order your ticket via their website (Waiting For "Superman" | Trailer & Official Movie Site | Pledge Now), $15 will be donated to the school of your choice.
The movie chronicles the sorry state of our education system, and puts the blame squarely where it belongs: The teachers unions and school boards that refuse to accept any innovation in education. It also features interviews with a number of prominent reformists, including Michelle Rhee, Geoffrey Canada, and Bill Gates.
As a DC resident, I'm a big fan of Michelle Rhee and everything she has done to improve DC's public schools. By firing incompetent teachers and confronting the teachers unions, she managed to raise DC's proficiency scores from 29% to 43% in only three years. That's why I was so sad when Adrian Fenty lost his mayoral reelection bid this past Tuesday; he has given Rhee his unqualified support. I hope that the new mayor will keep Michelle Rhee, but I fear that he will not.
I'm glad that Obama and Arne Duncan have decided to confront the teachers' unions head-on. Race To The Top is a great new federal program buried in the economic stimulus bill, that rewards the states most willing to innovate in education. It will encourage states to allow merit pay and charter schools.
What are your thoughts on education reform?
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