Joe Williams' Blog
San Diego Celebrates Brian Bennett Day
Democrats for Education Reform was on hand to honor a living legend on Tuesday, as the San Diego City Council and Mayor Jerry Sanders officially declared it "Brian Bennett Day" in the city.
This story from the San Diego Union Tribune from early May describes the situation. Bennett is a nationally-known education reformer and social activist (he ended up in the Watts race riots, was once arrested trying to desegregate a recreation center, campaigned for Robert F. Kennedy and was at the Ambassador Hotel when the senator was shot and killed, eventually became a strong supporter of school choice, etc.)
A year ago, Bennett, who is one of the sharpest/funniest people I've ever met, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, which has robbed him of his quick tongue and sturdy stature, but hasn't slowed his mind. He continues to work for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
Continue reading "San Diego Celebrates Brian Bennett Day"....
Posted by Joe Williams on June 20, 2007 12:49 PM
Viva Bloomberg? Edupressure for Dems?
My wife called me breathlessly yesterday while I was on a tarmac in Los Angeles. For some reason, she always gets breathless when she talks about her man Bloomberg, but that is a post for another day. She was calling to relay the big news that Mayor Bloomberg had formally decided to adios the Republican Party.
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 20, 2007 12:17 PM
June 17, 2007
Fenty Swings For The Fences
Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty knows what a ticking clock sounds like. Within just a few hours of officially gaining control of the District of Columbia's stuggling public school system last week, Fenty moved quickly and decisively to usher in a new era, sending clear signals that he was dead serious about what he's up to.
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 17, 2007 5:03 PM
June 15, 2007
Richardson's Education Plan A Snoozer
At least from what he is sayi
ng so far, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's plans for education don't exactly knock your socks off, i.e. the revolution ain't gonna happen if we all pull the lever with his name next to it. (In his defense, it isn't like the others in the Democratic field are much better.)
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 15, 2007 8:37 AM
June 12, 2007
When Agitators Become Insiders
The Washington Post this morning reports that Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is ousting D.C. Superintendent Clifford Janey and replacing him with Michelle Rhee, a dynamo who runs the NYC-based New Teacher Project.
This is obviously a huge move for the mayor, who took control of the city schools today. I am a big fan of Rhee, especially since her guts to bluster ratio is pretty much unmatched in public ed today. But bomb-throwing, hard-charging reform-types have a tendency to either flame-out after battling against the Education Cartel with both hands tied behind their backs (remember, despite the appearances, superintendents don't really run the show) or they disappointingly find themselves seduced by the status quo's excuse-making machine.
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 12, 2007 11:44 AM
June 10, 2007
Do Teachers Unions Have A Generational Problem?
One of the most interesting things about this piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by young Milwaukee Public Schools teacher Steve Paske is that he doesn't sound like he could possibly be one of those right-wing kooks that teacher unions have an easy time brushing off.
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 10, 2007 8:22 AM
June 9, 2007
Colorado Dudes Think DFER Won't Have Guts
A group called HeadFirst Colorado featured DFER on their blog the other day, but speculated that the organization would wuss out as soon as the teachers unions yelled "boo!"
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Posted by Joe Williams on June 9, 2007 9:05 PM
