By I had forgot to mention this but fortunately Wangkon936 jogged my memory that Washington, DC school superintendent Michelle Rhee that was featured here before on the ROK Drop was mentioned during the presidential debate:
MCCAIN: Well, sure. I’m sure you’re aware, Senator Obama, of the program in the Washington, D.C., school system where vouchers are provided and there’s a certain number, I think it’s a thousand and some and some 9,000 parents asked to be eligible for that.
Because they wanted to have the same choice that you and I and Cindy and your wife have had. And that is because they wanted to choose the school that they thought was best for their children.
And we all know the state of the Washington, D.C., school system. That was vouchers. That was voucher, Senator Obama. And I’m frankly surprised you didn’t pay more attention to that example.
Now as far as the No Child Left Behind is concerned, it was a great first beginning in my view. It had its flaws, it had its problems, the first time we had looked at the issue of education in America from a nationwide perspective. And we need to fix a lot of the problems. We need to sit down and reauthorize it.
But, again, spending more money isn’t always the answer. I think the Head Start program is a great program. A lot of people, including me, said, look, it’s not doing what it should do. By the third grade many times children who were in the Head Start program aren’t any better off than the others.
Let’s reform it. Let’s reform it and fund it. That was, of course, out-of-bounds by the Democrats. We need to reform these programs. We need to have transparency. We need to have rewards. It’s a system that cries out for accountability and transparency and the adequate funding.
And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children — precious children who have autism. Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we’ll find and we’ll spend the money, research, to find the cause of autism. And we’ll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.
MCCAIN: But to have a situation, as you mentioned in our earlier comments, that the most expensive education in the world is in the United States of America also means that it cries out for reform, as well.
And I will support those reforms, and I will fund the ones that are reformed. But I’m not going to continue to throw money at a problem. And I’ve got to tell you that vouchers, where they are requested and where they are agreed to, are a good and workable system. And it’s been proven.
OBAMA: I’ll just make a quick comment about vouchers in D.C. Senator McCain’s absolutely right: The D.C. school system is in terrible shape, and it has been for a very long time. And we’ve got a wonderful new superintendent there who’s working very hard with the young mayor there to try…
MCCAIN: Who supports vouchers.
OBAMA: … who initiated — actually, supports charters.
MCCAIN: She supports vouchers, also.
OBAMA: But the — but here’s the thing, is that, even if Senator McCain were to say that vouchers were the way to go — I disagree with him on this, because the data doesn’t show that it actually solves the problem — the centerpiece of Senator McCain’s education policy is to increase the voucher program in D.C. by 2,000 slots.
That leaves all of you who live in the other 50 states without an education reform policy from Senator McCain.
So if we are going to be serious about this issue, we’ve got to have a president who is going to tackle it head-on. And that’s what I intend to do as president.
SCHIEFFER: All right.
MCCAIN: Because there’s not enough vouchers; therefore, we shouldn’t do it, even though it’s working. I got it. [3rd US Presidential Debate Transcript]
Unfortunately they didn’t mention Michelle Rhee by name but they were clearly talking about her. So who is right, McCain or Obama on whether Michelle Rhee supports vouchers or not? As it turns out she is not against vouchers:
Here’s the evidence: In an interview in the Wall Street Journal last December, Rhee said answered a question about whether the city’s congressionally-imposed voucher program should be renewed by saying, “I would never, as long as I am in this role, do anything to limit another parent’s ability to make a choice for their child. Ever.” [Washington Post Blog]
However, she after the debate release a statement saying she is not taking any positions on the issue:
Rhee’s office quickly issued a statement that said she “disagrees with the notion that vouchers are the remedy for repairing the city’s school system.“ But she reiterated to Fast Company that she has “not taken a formal position on vouchers,” and she said she won’t—because she’s more concerned about fixing the schools where nearly 50,000 kids are still being educated. [Fast Company]
She is smart not to take sides on this political dispute between Obama and McCain because seeing the hatchet job currently being done on Joe the Plumber, I can only imagine what would happen to her, which would undermine her ability to reform the DC school district if she is having to defend herself from politically motivated smears every day.
However she has made statements in the past supporting McCain some what and criticizing Obama:
Rhee hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for either candidate, but told me earlier this year that McCain has the much stronger education policy from her point of view. “He isn’t great, but he hasn’t said he’s going to throw NCLB out—and now everyone who says I’m a right-wing wingnut is going to be like, ‘I knew it!’” she said.
As for Obama, she told me in May that what he might do on education policy “terrifies me,” even though she’s a staunch Democrat. She criticized his stance on No Child Left Behind, which she portrayed as “an ‘NCLB is evil, sucking the life out of teachers’ angle. It’s a total victim mentality.” (Obama did voice support for charters, which won’t be good news for his hard-core union supporters.) [Fast Company]
I think one thing that McCain and Obama can agree on is that Michelle Rhee is definitely a positive reformer for education.
I am interested in hearing what all you teachers that read this site think about this issue.
3:39 am on October 18th, 2008 1
I do not have a strong opinion about either vouchers or charter schools because there are pluses and minuses to both. My greatest concern about vouchers is that educational equality will be further eroded as some parents move their kids to private schools, leaving behind schools largely populated by high needs kids who are rejected by private schools or whose parents don't care to shop around for a good school. With charter schools, I don't object to the concept, but the reality is that these schools are hit and miss, just like public schools. Some have been very successful while others have failed. I do not see how either vouchers or charter schools will improve the education of our most at-risk students, whose numbers are rising.
7:05 am on October 18th, 2008 2
Mccain was trying to attack and slander her without giving her a chance while Obama complimented her for her success. Again the facts show here that the guy who could not even fly over a napalmed jungle without getting shot down and failing his mission, yet is supposed to be considered a war hero, only knows how to attack people ruthlessly without merit. Give the woman a chance.
10:02 am on October 18th, 2008 3
Can you point out the McCain attack on her? I sure do not see it.
What I see McCain doing is claiming that the vouchers are what turned around the DC school system. That is not correct. Vouchers were only part of the solution as well were charter schools.
From what I have read Rhee attempts to reform the teachers is what has really changed things more then either charters or vouchers.
Sonagi good points. I really do not know enough about charters or vouchers to make an educated opinion on them. What I do know is that considering the amount of money are nation invests in education we are definitely not getting our money's worth out of the system and something needs to be changed.
12:21 pm on October 18th, 2008 4
Don't skin your igronance with facts about Vietnam – McCain was not "shot down" over a jungle.
4:25 pm on October 18th, 2008 5
a listener:
Your blatant ignorance of Sen. McCain's war experiences obviously disqualifies you from further input on any topics remotely involving intelligent discussion.
2:07 am on October 19th, 2008 6
I wouldn't support vouchers unless the private schools were subjected to NCLB as well. From what I've read Korea does a better job at applying these kinds of standards, although they also illustrate the hazards of them.
NCLB is flawed, but the idea of systematically assessing kids' learning is not. The problem is that it works from average scores, so the incentive is to improve the average by getting rid of the dumb kids. For example, KIPP charter schools have very high washout rates (especially in the weeks before NCLB testing). That, basically, leaves kids behind.
What's needed is something like a same-child yearly improvement score, so, for example, if a kid makes a year and a half of progress, the school gets credit even if he's still "behind".
2:23 am on October 19th, 2008 7
That is because Korea has far fewer high needs children than the US.
Public schools cannot trim their rolls to boost the average. Moreover, the whole point of NCLB is to keep schools from masking poorly performing students with high average test scores. That is the reason for all the subcategories like African-American, Hispanic, limited English proficient, and economically disadvantaged. Like I said, I don't see how vouchers and charter schools will solve the problem of educating our neediest students, whose numbers are growing as a percentage of our student population, straining our resources.
Exactly. I had a student last year who missed passing the English and math tests by one question. The previous year, his scores were 100+ points below the cutoff. As far as NCLB was concerned, he failed. As far as I was concerned, he demonstrated great success by improving his scores so much.
6:42 am on October 19th, 2008 8
#4-5. It appears that poster is not the only one who begs to differ with both of you concerning Mccain's hero status.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/29/clark.mcca…
10:21 am on October 19th, 2008 9
It is pretty well known that Clark is a whore who will sleep with the highest bidder. This issue was discussed on this site soon after he made the comments – old news.
2:43 pm on October 28th, 2008 10
[...] DC School Superintendent Michelle Rhee Debated By US Presidential … [...]
11:15 am on November 18th, 2008 11
Rhee's vision is not Public Education and this reform is disruptive of the Constitution and educational law in Public Education.We would like our US flag back in Public Education please.We do not want the people of DC to be treated like tenants and this is the United States of America ! No self-goverance in DC ? Equality for advantaged and disadvantaged and read Manufactured Crisis ! Public Education got attacked by a shark on PL 107-110 with 10%.Pick your team ! Public Education,Charter Team,Private with vouchers or design your own antonomous schools with Rhee reform reinforcement NCLB with 10% ship headed for an iceberg ! Throw the life jackets and support resources and operational budgets for all Public School Buildings ! "Sail on Sailor !" Knight sees queen and bishop watching king ! Check and Tac !
1:30 pm on November 18th, 2008 12
Of Rhee's theorization of radical "mind" changing teacher contracts ? It's having a chilling effect and not snow here yet. Please review Reilly & Brown 1996 from the Department of Education Administration,University of Nebraska-Lincoln on Educational Leadership.Title VI,Code of Federal Regulations Title 29 Volume 4,part 1607.4.D,"Four fifths rule." Prima facie case for discriminatory effect intent ? Cahan Gamliel,applied measurement in education.Who knows if there is administrative remedy in all this Rhee reform and the distribution of decision-making authority between levels and actors in educational management is lacking unity of democratic spirit.Rhees controversial new budget for schools appealed successfully. Title IX ? Call Cardozo and rectify anomalies! Get the teachers and school buildings fixed and create a happy,fun,learning environment for the children.That's what's missing in this reform and all buildings with children should be supported.Crisis teacher contract in appeals ? Abolishment Statute Code & 1-624-08. Docket #07-581,Office of Employee Appeals has exclusive juisdiction over unions claims appeal. Unfair application of the rules ? Yeeha,looks like a really not place to re-locate and teach and feeling for the first year teachers,principles and the children.You'll honestly find as many brilliant minds in poverty as rich.Don't forget what R Guy Cole Jr. said on US Court of Appeals !"NCLB fails to provide clear notice of the states obligation to incur additional costs to comply with the acts requirements." 15 states pending with law suits on Federal Gov. over NCLB and that 10%.Rhee want the US to declare a "state of emergency" and a quote form Rhee recorded in media.Who decides a poor performing teacher or principle in Rhee reform ? Scary ! Susan Schaeffer in Charter is getting busy in DC and they've lost 2000 students. Casserly says,"I always worry about people being set up as saviors and then later being crucified when they fall from grace." Is Rhee going for cyber high schools ? Are the audit results posted for the public review on this school system ? Special education dept. has a judge and two lawyers evaluating FAPE,GS 94-142,IDEA… ? The judge mentioned question of administrative disorganization and roll your sleeves up and get busy…!News media writes the school system has had an audit months ago by private auditors and projected a deficit in school system budget. By law Fenty is required to hold a public hearing and accountable. Now the Counsil is irate months later about the budget and it's not public for tax payers to review. Obama and McCain didn't agree on much but they both in the debate did acknowledge DC schools was a mess. "It has been for a long time." Obama ! Then he hung his head down and he knows what's going on.Know what ya don't know at the top and hire a superintendent of education and provide resources to the school buildings.That budget needs to be on the line to the dime ! CNN has a culprit list and they put a new one on from DC everyday. Get real and team up ! Go ask the principles what they need and pack their survival kits ! Shame on you !
1:42 pm on November 18th, 2008 13
Have a nice day and the O'Jays to ya ! Looking for a fire truck and a marching band ! Get up off that thing…DC,dance and you'll feel better.Ha !It'll all work out in the changing of the guards.
5:50 pm on November 18th, 2008 14
A week ago Counsil members were exasperated with Rhee’s handling of a proposed $100 million reshuffling of school funds per news media.Disapproval resolution temporaily blocking council action on the reprogramming filed per Harry Thomas. There’s a calm before the storm !What happened to Bill 16-250 ? Anacostia=Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Mouse ! It’s an academy award “Oscar” nominee and on the list for rodent patrol and needs support.It could be a state of emergency prior to the City Sanitation Dept. getting sued for unhealthy working conditions.About six or so months ago Levy with Washington Lawyers asked a great question viewing budget, “What is the $794.6 million based on ?” “Does it start from the ground up or simply dividing the existing pot?” Fiance officials and private auditors projected a deficit in school system budget some eight months ago and in the last two weeks the Counsil is irate ! Hire a superintendent and provide resources and support to school buildings. Change starts from the bottom up and not the top down.
5:28 pm on November 18th, 2008 15
People need to open their eyes and see Michell Rhee for what she is. A wild eyed Korean nationalist.
9:58 pm on November 18th, 2008 16
#11, #12, #13, and #14
All the same person? The same gobbledygook writing style.
If there is a coherent message in any of that, it’s beyond me.