There has been so much churn in education reform circles these days?Superman! Osama Bin Laden! Rhee!?that I predict the renaming of the Meier/Ravitch blog: from Bridging Differences to Life and Times on the LA Freeway?or, perhaps, A Bridge Too Far? After all, Ms. Ravitch has crossed over and Ms. Meier just embraced Rick Hess.
For someone looking for a little summary of?the?recent storms check out yesterday's Times story on Randi Weingarten, who has become something of a lightning rod (?scapegoat,? ?demonic opponent of change,? according to the Times) in these fights.
Of course, Weingarten is no wallflower?see her reply to Superman?but even she, according to this report, has mellowed. ?Of necessity? Mais, oui!
The Times story quotes Detroit Federation of Teachers leader, Keith Johnson:
We now have our backs up against the wall?? If we don't embrace education reform, we will get knocked through the wall.
When will the dust settle?? A little hand-holding here as we try to find our way may be?okay.? But even if we have to close?our eyes?momentarily, we need keep?them on the prize.? Which is where?
?Peter Meyer, Bernard Lee Schwartz Policy Fellow
