Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

yurbud

yurbud's Journal
yurbud's Journal
January 14, 2013

RAVITCH: Michelle Rhee doesn't want the kind of school she's selling for her own kid

Unfortunately, the same can be said of most of the politicians and billionaire self-appointed education "experts" who are killing our public schools with repetitive standardized testing, to make way for privatized, for-profit charter schools and education management companies.

My wife is a special ed teacher, and I asked her how often they have to give the standardized tests, and she said it amounted to once every two months. I can't imagine any decent prep school doing anything of the sort.

Michelle Rhee’s School Choice in Nashville
by dianerav
Michelle Rhee was interviewed by "The City Paper" in Nashville.

The story describes her thus: "A Tennessee transplant, she is turning her attention to schools in her new state." It also refers to the "roots" she is "setting" in Nashville. Apparently, she never told the reporter that she lives in Sacramento, not Nashville. She describes herself as a "public school parent" because one of her daughters attends public school in Nashville. But she did not acknowledge that her older daughter goes to an excellent private school, Harpeth Hall School ("Nashville, TN's only independent, college-preparatory school for girls, grades 5-12”).

One can hardly blame her for choosing Harpeth Hall. It has an 8:1 student/teacher ratio, with a median class size of 13. Class sizes in public schools in Nashville and other cities are much, much larger.

I bet that Harpeth Hall does not give standardized tests and does not evaluate teachers based on their students' test scores.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Michelle Rhee became an advocate for small class size, and for the same goals and purposes for all children that she wants for her own child?

FULL TEXT

Profile Information

Member since: Sun Jul 11, 2004, 07:58 PM
Number of posts: 39,405
Latest Discussions»yurbud's Journal