There was a time when the children who hailed from the D.C. Public Schools received an education that was equitable to that of any child from any of the fifty states. Somehow, over the years this school system has become the poster child for all that goes wrong in inner city schools. What happened? O.K. clearly something went off track. But I am having a hard time wrapping myself around the perception that no one in this city in many years has cared enough or had answers or commitment that could put the children of this city back on track. I can't accept that there is only one person who has made a difference.
Michelle Rhee recently dismissed a large number of teachers from the D.C. payroll. As a mother who is careful about when to introduce new concepts (like moving or replacing persons) in a child's reality, I question Ms. Rhee's timing. I also question her priorities. Fixing this "utterly broken system" is supposedly a goal. Cutting costs in another priority. And one obvious goal is also to present Rhee as the savior to Washington's children.
It is not clear which priority ranks first. I submit that the latter is considered. There is no guarantee that the kids here in D.C. are going to benefit from all of the negative publicity their schools have received, but you better bet that Michelle Rhee will coming out looking pretty good at the end of the day. So you tell me where exactly is the commitment and who is it benefiting?
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