Denying the Public School Box
Ever heard of Michelle Rhee? In the summer of 2007, she became the first chancellor of the Washington DC public school system, considered one of the worst public school systems in the country. In a profile of her in the November 2008 edition of The Atlantic, author Clay Risen wrote:
“Since her arrival, Rhee, just 38 years old, has become the most controversial figure in American public education and the standard bearer for a new type of schools leader nationwide."
He went on to say:
“She and her cohort often seek to bypass the traditional forces of education schools and unions, instead embracing nontraditional reform mechanisms like charter schools, vouchers and the No Child Left Behind Act."
Rhee has received a great deal of praise for her progress. People have flocked from across the country to work for her and foundations and businesses have flooded her with offers to help, including providing cash. Everything must be roses, right? Not so. The article goes on to describe the political hornet’s nest she has found herself in. Check out this comment:
“Washington, in other words, is a battlefield and national testing ground where upstart young reformers are pitted against an establishment unwilling to give ground to what it sees as reckless social experiments.”
No one ever said ignoring the box would be smooth sailing. My interpretation of the remainder of the article was how Rhee is willing to toss out almost everything that has not worked, in order to make the DC school system a showcase, which could impact public education across the nation. And she is confronting a number of opponents – unions, politicians, and activists - who are trying to clip her wings, push her back inside the box, and keep things pretty much the same as they are now.
When politics are involved, there seems to be an endless onslaught of barriers designed to prevent any kind of change in the way things get done. Rhee will have her hands full, just like everyone else who decides to take on the status quo in a big way. What history tells us is the school system in DC or anyplace else will not dramatically improve without dramatic change. It will be interesting to see to what extent she can overcome the crushing pressure of the current system and make her dream a reality.
Steve
“Since her arrival, Rhee, just 38 years old, has become the most controversial figure in American public education and the standard bearer for a new type of schools leader nationwide."
He went on to say:
“She and her cohort often seek to bypass the traditional forces of education schools and unions, instead embracing nontraditional reform mechanisms like charter schools, vouchers and the No Child Left Behind Act."
Rhee has received a great deal of praise for her progress. People have flocked from across the country to work for her and foundations and businesses have flooded her with offers to help, including providing cash. Everything must be roses, right? Not so. The article goes on to describe the political hornet’s nest she has found herself in. Check out this comment:
“Washington, in other words, is a battlefield and national testing ground where upstart young reformers are pitted against an establishment unwilling to give ground to what it sees as reckless social experiments.”
No one ever said ignoring the box would be smooth sailing. My interpretation of the remainder of the article was how Rhee is willing to toss out almost everything that has not worked, in order to make the DC school system a showcase, which could impact public education across the nation. And she is confronting a number of opponents – unions, politicians, and activists - who are trying to clip her wings, push her back inside the box, and keep things pretty much the same as they are now.
When politics are involved, there seems to be an endless onslaught of barriers designed to prevent any kind of change in the way things get done. Rhee will have her hands full, just like everyone else who decides to take on the status quo in a big way. What history tells us is the school system in DC or anyplace else will not dramatically improve without dramatic change. It will be interesting to see to what extent she can overcome the crushing pressure of the current system and make her dream a reality.
Steve
posted by Steve C. at
3:16 PM
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