Edumacate yourself!

Great, another private school educated administrator without a single day of real-life public school teaching experience. Well, at least he knows how to say the right thing (is a career politician) and won't have his high minded-ideals bashed against the wall (there's a reason why over 50% of teacher quit within three years, and it's not the pay).

I love his idea of residency programs for teachers seeking advanced degrees in education. How long does he think teachers will stick around in urban schools after they've gotten their Masters/Phds? How many days did he stick around teaching after he got his advanced degree? Oh yeah, he hasn't taught a day in his life.

Oh, and bribing students to do well in school is a great idea. As if the value of an education isn't incentive enough. Shouldn't we be teaching students about thinking in the long-term, especially with America's fiscal/credit/savings crisis? Doesn't bribing them to do well in school just support the instant gratification, "now, now, now", "me, me, me" mentality of America?

Whatevar, at least it all sounds good and that's all that counts these days.

One more thing: I love the idea of accountability just so long as the students, parents, and communities are drawn into the equation of accountability. After-all, it takes a village to raise a child-not just a teacher. Therefore, all of the blame shouldn't be placed on the teacher for the failure of the student. However, blaming the teachers for everything is an extremely politically convenient "solution" to the nation's education problems.