Free Republic

This weekend, a feature film highlighting struggling schools and parent and teacher empowerment will be released to theaters everywhere. "Won't Back Down," opening this Friday, September 28, gives moviegoers the opportunity to watch a film that pairs Hollywood entertainment with a message about American education reform. "Won't Back Down" is the story of a single mother who refuses to accept that her daughter must attend a chronically failing school. Upon learning of a new "Parent Trigger" law that allows her to take back the school, she, along with a courageous teacher, fight to engage the community and turn the school...

The educational establishment is ramping up its attack of “Won’t Back Down,” a fictional movie of a parent and teacher teaming up to take over a failing school through a “parent trigger” law. The movie will be released nationally on Sept. 28. The National School Public Relations Association is now working with the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers in issuing talking points to members about how to best dismiss the point of the movie without actually looking like they’re attacking it. “We urge you to consider applauding the passion and activism of parents in the movie. You...

Bill Bennett: Fewer black babies = less crime in America If Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman is serious about wooing African-American voters, he can throw all his energy into speaking to African-American groups and recruiting African-American candidates. Either that, or he could just ask Bill Bennett to shut up. Bennett, who served as secretary of education under Ronald Reagan before writing the beloved-by-the-right "Book of Virtues," explained on his radio show yesterday that America could reduce its crime rate by eliminating African-Americans. Media Matters has the audio. The gist of it: A caller to Bennett's radio show suggested that...