D. C. Schools at Twilight

Accuracy in Academia ^ | September 17, 2010 | Deborah Lambert

[AccuracyAcademia]

“The fight for the Democratic mayoral nominee in Washington D.C. encapsulates the national struggle for education reform,” wrote Christopher Prandoni of Americans for Tax Reform, on the eve of the primary that wiped D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty off the map.

He noted that that Mayor Fenty and School Chancellor Michelle Rhee, were “true reformers who took on the teachers unions in hopes of improving DC’s schools.”

But the youngest mayor in D.C. history who presided over a downturn in homicide rates and an upturn in city public school achievements, fell victim to “big city politician” Vincent Gray, who is apparently “owned by special interest groups, and will only pay lip service to reform, something DC desperately needs.” “For decades, Washington D.C.’s public schools were the laughingstock of the country, consistently ranking near the bottom in every education metric. Fed-up with the status quo, Fenty appointed Michelle Rhee as Chancellor of Washington’s schools giving her free rein to battle the self-serving teachers unions and implement reforms she deemed essential. So, did it work? How does D.C.’s education system compare to other cities, now?

“A new study by AEI’s Rick Hess examines “which of thirty major U.S. cities have cultivated a healthy environment for school reform to flourish.” Hess found that DC’s education environment now ranks second in a study of major US cities, largely due to Mayor Fenty and Michelle Rhee’s reforms.

“Reform is painful; Fenty bruised some egos in the process making a lot of powerful enemies. Hess writes, ‘Survey respondents report that Mayor Adrian Fenty is the only municipal leader willing to expend extensive political capital to advance education reform.’”

[battlecry]

It may have been doubtful DC could have kept Rhee. She is engaged to somebody from the west coast.

That said, I was hoping some of her reforms might continue. Unfortunately, the people of DC have spoken, and the kids will once again lose. The DC PS system will once again become the refuge of the unemployable, producing more of the same.

[PLMerite]

“Hess found that DC’s education environment now ranks second...”

What the heck does that mean? Can the little thugs read and write standard english now or what ?

[laotzu]

“The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600’s. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of increment weather.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“I promise you a police car on every sidewalk.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“First, it was not a strip bar, it was an erotic club. And second, what can I say? I’m a night owl.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa?” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn’t break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? WOULD IT!?!” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

“I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am a humble man.” — Democrat Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC