This Washington Post piece on U.S. education reform was written by principals Carol Burris and Harry Leonardatos. Burris is the co-author and Harry is an active supporter of the New York Principals’ letter of concern regarding the evaluation of teachers by student scores. That letter so far has been signed by more than 1,500 New York principals, along with more than 5,400 teachers, parents, professors, administrators, and citizens.
In this post to the Answer Sheet blog, Burris and Leonardatos explain that the current focus on education reform–and, in particular, the negative view of the current education system–is the result of the profitability involved for school “reformers”; for example, Michelle Rhee’s current speaking fee is $50,000 per appearance.
The authors also note that corporate profitability–and corporate influence on education reform–is a more critical concern.
Rupert Murdoch announced that public education is a $500 billion market waiting desperately to be transformed. He is creating the data systems and hiring the people to help him make that profitable transformation happen. All the while, the editorial departments of his newspapers hammer away at New York City’s schools and teachers…
