Washington Post: Duncan’s Chicago Model Questioned

Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s legacy as Chicago schools chief questioned

By Nick Anderson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 29, 2009; A01

CHICAGO — Soon after Arne Duncan left his job as schools chief here to become one of the most powerful U.S. education secretaries ever, his former students sat for federal achievement tests. This month, the mathematics report card was delivered: Chicago trailed several cities in performance and progress made over six years.

Press refuses to Expose Michelle Rhee’s Failure in DC

Media continuing myths on DC public schools just keep coming

Posting by Robert Vinson Brannum

When it comes to writing about D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and reforming D.C. public education, major newspapers appear only willing to focus on advancing Chancellor Rhee as an innovator who can by herself save public education for District of Columbia students.  Ms. Lauren Smith, writing an article for the U.S. News & World Report, “D.C. Schools Chief Michelle Rhee Fights Union Over Teacher Pay” shows how the national media has become a part of a national effort to push education reform with biased reporting.  The national media has taken not only to ignoring the people of the District of Columbia; it has seemingly decided to ignore contrary data.

Diane Ravitch Responds to New York Times Article About Charters and Hedge Fund Managers

See previous blog and article posting at:

Charter Schools in New York Used to Enhance Corporate Hedge Fund Manager’s Portfolios

The Race to Nowhere

Dear Deborah,

I understand why you were taken aback by that article in the “Style” section of The New York Times last week that described how charter schools have become a must-have among hedge-fund managers, billionaires, and other members of the social elite in New York City. The article bothered me, too. In fact, the more I think about it, the more it worries me. Having written the history of the New York City public schools, I was reminded of the origins of free schooling in certain northeastern cities in the early 19th Century, when wealthy men decided that it was their civic duty to help civilize the children of the poor. In their view and in their day, they were doing good deeds, but their schools were stigmatized as charity schools for children of paupers and were avoided by children of the middle class. Outside of big cities, public education emerged as a community response to a community’s need to school its children, not as a charitable venture.

Jim Bohl Proposes MPS Governance Compromise

Joel McNally Questions Barrett’s MPS “Power Play”

Read Joel’ McNally’s article from Milwaukee Express at:

http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/article-9325-baffling-political-battle.html

MPS Board President Responds To Milwaukee Journal Distortions

MPS School Board President Michael Bonds writes letter exposing the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s blatant distortions and inaccuracies.

See the letter at:

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/dec09/dec24/1224williamsmpsltr.pdf

John Ashley, Executive Director of Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Asks Legislature to Support MPS Board Move to Hire New Superintendent

See John Ashley’s letter at the following site:

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/dec09/dec22/1222wasbashleyltr.pdf

Retired Connecticut Teacher Raises Important Questions About Charter Schools

Charter Schools: Education’s Fox in the Henhouse?

Senate Hearing Set On MPS Takeover For January 5th

Senate

PUBLIC HEARING

New Organization Formed By Business and Voucher Interests To Support Takeover

A new “coalition” has been formed in Milwaukee to support the mayoral takeover. Go to the following website to see their statement and a membership list. There will be much more said about this organization and its members.

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/dec09/dec16/1216educationnowmps.pdf