Rhee's face looked downcast and weepy after her meeting with the incoming mayor of DC. She who lives by firing, gets fired herself. Poetic justice, chancellor!
I hope Oprah and Arianna Huffington, supposedly Democrats, take notice of what happened to their new "Education Game Changer." Harrassment, mass firings, top down edicts, no consensus or buy in by staff, ignoring parents, and having no respect for teachers' professionalism may not have been the best game for this 3 year veteran of the classroom.
Rhee and Duncan are know nothings when it comes to actual teaching. They do have important friends in the business community and in the white house. We teachers and real progressives need to rebuke this teacher harassment style of "reform." If we are worried about school lets fund them properly so they are not laying off teachers and increasing class size like we are. As a teacher I spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars a year on school supplies. What professionals have to do that? Plus we get the blame and scorn of the failing schools fallacy. When a community is failing it threatens to take the school with it. We teachers fight every day against the dying of that light.
Hopefully, Rhee's stock will be somewhat diminished and she will not be able to create so much ill will, low morale, and angered parents and community members in her next position. Maybe she should go back to the classroom and teacher for at least 7 to 10 years so at least she can understand what goes on there. I feel sorry for the staff, students, and parents of the next district she goes to.
What can we do to improve children's prospects in life?
If we look within the US and abroad, the biggest factor in student performance is poverty. Government and society needs to take better care of it's citizens not just by test scores. Basic needs must be met. Support health care reform! If we address health care, joblessness, teen pregnancy, homelessness and transiency, and hunger we can help the children in school by alleviating the debilitating conditions of poverty.
Also, read with your kids.
Lastly, take your kids to the library and read with your kids. Ask Shefelbine, Krashen, or any education expert on this they all agree.