Arne the advocate for big business!

[cjbgreen]

So do Obama and Arne really believe that mayors should have total control of school districts with no accountability except an election. Do we really want Rudy Guilani or Sarah Palin to have that kind of power. We know the cronyism and problems that big city mayors bring. Do we really want someone like that for our public schools systems. and I am sure Arne will talk to the business communities. This is not change we can believe in.

"Arne Duncan said Tuesday that mayors should take control of big-city school districts where academic performance is suffering.
Duncan said mayoral control provides the strong leadership and stability needed to overhaul urban schools.
Mayors run the schools in fewer than a dozen big cities; only seven have full control over management and operations. That includes Chicago, where Duncan headed the school system until joining the Obama administration.
Speaking at a forum with mayors and superintendents, Duncan promised to help more mayors take over.

Really, so you really would want someone like Sarah Palin to have control of schools. You really would want a school board that has no authority and only advises the Mayor.

"At the end of my tenure, if only seven mayors are in control, I think I will have failed," Duncan said.
He offered to do whatever he can to make the case. "I'll come to your cities," Duncan said. "I'll meet with your editorial boards. I'll talk with your business communities. I will be there."
Well I think we know that Arne isn't doing this for the kids.


Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/arne-duncan-mayors-schools-033109.html#ixzz0vUj9upG7

[femmocrat]

1. None of this makes any sense.

Why is Obama supporting this jerk's "reforms"? He is going to decimate public education even beyond what we feared from republicans.

Mayors are politicians, not educators. I can just imagine 28-year old Luke Ravenstahl running the Pittsburgh Public Schools! It's insanity.

[mopinko]

2. ritchie daley saved this city by taking control of the schools.

no one was accountable before that. there was a 17 member school board whose main concern was getting contracts for their friends and family. the system was in great disarray. anyone that could move to the burbs when the kids turned 5, did. many people sent their kids to the catholic schools, regardless of their own religion, just to keep them out of the common schools. buildings were a disaster, and classes were being held in broom closets in overcrowded buildings. the city really was starting to collapsing from middle class flight.
daley took control. i wish i had the time to do a photo essay of the new schools that he has built. there are still plenty of problems, but the flight has slowed to a trickle, and the arch-dioscese of chicago has shuttered most of its school system. parents are choosing public schools. that should be the marker.

he likes the idea because he has seen it work. if a city wants sarah palin for their mayor, schools will be one of many problems that will likely drain the city. but because some elections have bad outcomes, do you think we should stop allowing them? big city mayors need to be able to take over the schools if they see fit. they are central to the health of a city. when one person has their neck on the line, that is the definition of accountability.

[mzteris]

3. look at the school board in wake county, nc . n/t

[cjbgreen]

5. Policticians running schools!

Seriously, that last thing schools need are politicians! Especially with now that corporations can buy our leaders. Arne and Obama are wrong! This will not help democrats win this Fall.

[mzteris]

8. we already have "politicians" running schools...

people forget that. All those wanna be's. The conservatives started years ago to "take over" school boards because they knew they could influence more children by the policies they set. People don't think as much about "politics" when they vote for school board -they see "family man" and "Sunday school teacher" and think - oh they like children! so they must be good. :puke:

I'd rather it be above board and known "who or what" you're gonna get when you vote.

[txlibdem]

6. Your town's school board was a criminal matter, not a takeover matter

Using your position to improperly funnel state or city funds to your friends or relatives is a criminal act. Those board members should have been taken away in handcuffs, with news cameras capturing the whole event.

[mopinko]

7. true enough, although

if you started that in chicago, we would have to build a couple new prisons. it is just the way it always was.
i am talking about things that happened almost 20 years ago. i am sure the statute of limitations has passed.

[Dinger]

4. Goddamn, fuck arne

Can't say it enough

[Starry Messenger]

9. Let's hear it for democracy!

:sarcasm:

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Since our mayor is a complete idiot I say no to this stupid idea