Bush could not have gotten his education agenda...Democrats would have opposed him.

[madfloridian]

The Republicans could never have gotten this privatization of education completed because the Democrats would have fought them on it.

It is now being accomplished under the Obama administration. The disrespect for public school teachers is growing more quickly in that environment.

Maybe it was always meant to be this way. That the Democrats would complete the dream of Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich to have free market schools.

Diane Ravitch was assistant Superintendent of Education under George W. Bush. She has since spoken out in great opposition to all that these plans entailed. Her words from 2009 in an interview with educator Fred Klonsky:

A question for Diane Ravitch

Hi, Fred,
I think that Bush wishes he could have imposed the agenda laid out in Race to the Top, but he would have had to fight against the Democrats in Congress.

They would never have supported a plan that bribed states to lift the caps on charter schools–far too intrusive, and many would have seen this as privatization. Nor would they have supported a federal requirement that states remove any legal restriction on linking teacher evaluations to student test scores–not only because it is offensive to teachers, who know that they are not solely responsible for their students’ scores, but because the research does not support this idea.

So, do I think that Duncan is carrying forward Bush’s agenda? Yes, beyond the dreams of Margaret Spellings, and without the opposition of the Democrats in Congress.

But please, tell me, do you think I am wrong? Do you like the fact that a Democratic administration is promoting charters, private management, merit pay, and high-stakes testing for teachers?

Diane Ravitch

Arne Duncan is pushing through the education agenda of George and Jeb Bush. There is no opposition from Democrats in congress.

There is, though, plenty of denial as we lose our public education system to private companies.

And there is plenty of criticism and contempt toward those of us who point out what is happening right under our noses.

[madfloridian]

1. Why did WH invite Pearson to conference when they had been fined over 7 milion for breaking law.

Why was Pearson invited?

The Pearson Foundation, the charitable arm of one of the nation’s largest textbook and test publishers, was forced to pay $7.7 million to settle accusations that it repeatedly broke New York State law by assisting in for-profit ventures. Pearson is a for-profit corporation, and they are prohibited by law from using charitable funds to promote and develop for-profit products. In this case they were caught misusing their non-profit arm to bribe N.Y. and other state educators with international junkets.

These are the people who make up the tests to grade school, teachers, and students....and they do in a proprietary manner.

Should not be part of a Democratic agenda.

[jsr]

3. Enrichment of corporate CEOs should not be part of a Democratic agenda.

[madfloridian]

5. So true.

[kath]

2. it really, really sucks having a Trojan Horse in the White House.

[madfloridian]

4. The American public school under siege. Long post by professor at Huff Post.

Michael Brenner is a Senior Fellow, the Center for Transatlantic Relations; Professor of International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh.

The American Public School Under Siege

This past week, as the deadline approached for states to make their submissions to Arne Duncan's Department of Education requesting monies appropriated under the Race to the Top initiative, we were reminded that the DOE has decreed that no proposal will be considered where the state government has put a cap on charter schools. In other words, the federal government has put its thumb heavily on the scales of local deliberations as to what approach toward charter schools best serves their communities' interests. Penalties are being imposed on those who choose to limit, in any quantitative way, the charter school movement.

Thus the charter schools grow more quickly. The Dept of Ed is buying compliance.

More:[blockquote]Duncan's office has been the moving force behind a concerted effort to conceal the reality of what charter schools have, and have not, accomplished. The truth is not very pretty. Overall, the performance of their students on standardized tests, and graduation rates, are marginally worse on than those of the country's public schools. The drop-out rate among minorities is actually higher.** This dismal record is despite the preferential treatment that charter schools' receive: subsidies above and beyond the budgets of counterpart public schools; the cherry-picking of students that excludes many of those with chronic learning and/or discipline problems and/or from non-English speaking families; etc.

More:

The distressing truth of the matter is that, in most states, any group of guys able to present what looks like a "sound business plan" can obtain a certificate to set up a charter school. The most worrying phenomenon is the manipulation of charter school curriculum to serve the ideological interests of the groups that run them. In Texas, Indiana, Ohio and other states, "creationism" and related Bible based 'science' has replaced standard approaches. (Slate Jan 16) A Right- wing interpretation of American history that, among other things, casts the New Deal as the workings of "un-American" spirit in the land is becoming commonplace. The businessman's view as to government's role in regulation also is gaining authority and prominence. In short, the charter school way is entrenching the ideas and attitudes of a sectarian element in American society whose ascendance already has wrought enormous damage. That a Democratic president should be the agent of this transformation is a telling commentary on where this White House and those who back him to the bitter end have gone wrong.

And I really do agree with this part:

Of all the institutions that made the United States into a coherent society, none made a greater contribution than our public schools. It was they that fashioned a loyal citizenry bound by a core of civic values and a collective identity -- regardless of creed, national origin, religion or political preference. It was they that molded a disparate population into a unified nation. That may not be the case in the future.

[ellennelle]

6. teddy

um, i hate to dispute your assessment of this situation, as i share your outrage over what is happening.

but, as i recall, it was ted kennedy (among others) who helped bush push through the no child left behind bill early in bush's first months in office.

The legislation was proposed by President George W. Bush on January 23, 2001. It was coauthored by Representatives John Boehner (R-OH), George Miller (D-CA), and Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Judd Gregg (R-NH). The United States House of Representatives passed the bill on May 23, 2001 (voting 384–45),[6] and the United States Senate passed it on June 14, 2001 (voting 91–8).[7] President Bush signed it into law on January 8, 2002.

ps. don't get me wrong; i adore teddy, and miss him terribly. in fact, that action on his part was a shining example of his devotion to the legislative process, and he led the way. what a loss; we need him now, desperately.

[madfloridian]

7. My point is that it stagnated until Arne. Now it is reaching completion....

with the full blessing of Democrats. Yes, Ted Kennedy pushed these reforms from the start. Now they are all coming to fruition.

[El_Johns]

9. IMO, always a bipartisan effort from start to finish.

[spanone]

8. k&r...

[madfloridian]

10. ......

Thanks.

[spanone]

11. i always admire your steadfast support of good/equal education. thank YOU.

[madfloridian]

12. Thanks.

There's surely been enough insults here for one day. Enough is enough. Kind words are appreciated.

[madfloridian]

13. Jeb and Arne "agree on everything important."

A quote from Matt Yglesias in 2009:

"I'd like to see Republicans work closely with the Obama White House on education, an area where Jeb Bush and Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, agree on everything important." (Prospects for Bipartisanship Matt Yglesias)

http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2009/10/quotes-jeb-bush-and-arne-duncan-agree-on-everything-important.html#.UwNdAWeYa1s

Unfortunately that is true.

[Octafish]

14. Just like piratizing Social Security.

Piratizing Public Education has to be done by a person with "D" after their name.

Thank you for standing up and being a REAL DEMOCRAT, madfloridian. A REAL TEACHER, too.

[madfloridian]

15. We are not supposed to worry about real Democratic traditions, don't you know?

We have to support this administration no matter what. The truth doesn't matter much anymore.

Appreciate the kind words.

[woo me with science]

16. One party, two faces.