Arne Duncan's Race To The Top: A local take

[SoxFan]

My column from the NH Herald

http://newhampshireherald.com/race.html

:puffpiece: (yeah, I know)

New Hampshire is in need of a sea change in the discussion surrounding
education reform. Republicans and conservatives must rethink their reflexive
devotion to an education funding system that may have been appropriate for the
rural, sparsely populated New Hampshire of the 1950s but is woefully
inappropriate in the 21st century. If our schools have a dependable funding
stream, it will make it much easier to undertake critical reforms, be they assisting
charter schools, providing intensive tutoring for at-risk students, or simply
providing every student with a textbook.

My fellow Democrats must realize that what makes the National Education
Association happy is not necessarily the same thing as what benefit’s the
students in our schools. Greater choice within the public school context, tenure
reform, and greater accountability should not be taken off the table out of fear of
losing political action committee support.

Supporters of real education reform have true allies in President Obama and
Secretary Duncan. New Hampshire’s elected leaders need to take advantage of
the pro-reform climate and commit themselves to implementing bold and
innovative reforms and take student achievement to a new level. Our future
economic competitiveness depends on it, and our kids and their parents
deserve nothing less.

[Cha]

1. I'm glad you linked

your article here, Soxfan..it's very good. Incredible how many people don't understand or care what's best for the kids.

My sister is a teacher here in New York and she loves this race to the top..very happy New York received some of the money, too!

[Number23]

2. I enjoyed reading your perspective on this issue, Sox

"New Hampshire is in need of a sea change in the discussion surrounding
education reform. Republicans and conservatives must rethink their reflexive
devotion to an education funding system that may have been appropriate for the
rural, sparsely populated New Hampshire of the 1950s but is woefully
inappropriate in the 21st century.

...My fellow Democrats must realize that what makes the National Education
Association happy is not necessarily the same thing as what benefit’s the
students in our schools. Greater choice within the public school context, tenure
reform, and greater accountability should not be taken off the table out of fear of
losing political action committee support."

[quiet.american]

3. I couldn't agree more with your assertion here --

"My fellow Democrats must realize that what makes the National Education
Association happy is not necessarily the same thing as what benefits the
students in our schools. Greater choice within the public school context, tenure
reform, and greater accountability should not be taken off the table out of fear of
losing political action committee support."

[elleng]

4. Excellent. Thanks