I'm currently on the Amtrak back from Philly, where I spoke before the education committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. I decided to be provocative, purposely trying to raise their blood pressure a bit. And I knew my talk wouldn't be popular. But you know the old adage about knowing your audience? Well...
I started by expressing my disappointment that Dennis VanRoekel, the NEA's president, wasn't speaking on the panel with me as planned. (He had a "scheduling conflict," and sent Diane Shust, his government relations director, instead.) I was bummed, I explained to the group, because just this morning I ran up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps (it's important to do cheesy tourist stuff whenever possible), did my best Rocky impersonation, and dreamed about taking some swings at the president of the NEA.
That comment drew silence. Round One: Not so good.
I went on to give my talk, "How to Think Like a Washingtonian." It had three parts. First, "What Washington Thinks of You State Legislators," second, "What's Wrong With What Washington Thinks About You State Legislators," and third, "What To Do about What Washington Thinks About You State Legislators."
I explained that Washington thinks state legislators are racist and classist, and basically hate poor and minority kids. How else can you explain inequitable funding systems, low standards, failing urban systems, and all of the rest, which legislatures blithely ignore? Next I relayed that Washington also thinks state legislatures are in the pockets of the teachers unions. (Diane's presence was telling.) How else to explain state laws that bar the use of student achievement data in evaluating teachers or making tenure decisions? Why else would states make it so hard to replicate hyper-effective charter schools? Finally, I argued that Washington sees state legislators as just another interest group, wanting more money and less accountability.
At this point I pleaded with them not to shoot the messenger. But they did not look amused. Round Two: I'm feeling wobbly.
I wrapped up by arguing that many of these Washington perspectives are wrong-headed and unfair (though they all have some truth). Plenty of states were moving aggressively on accountability and achievement gap stuff before NCLB, which then put them in a policy straightjacket. There's a legitimate debate about how to define "equity"--is it all about gap closing or is it instead about making sure that all kids get an equal push to reach their full potential?
I urged the NCSL not to play to type by simply railing against "federal control" of the schools while happily walking off with $100 billion in stimulus funds. I encouraged them to keep an open mind with respect to the common standards effort (it is state-led, and bottom-up, after all!), and take solace in Arne Duncan's comments about wanting to make federal policy "tight" about results but??"loose" about process.
I said my peace and sat down. That's when things got interesting. Almost everyone who asked a question was not only supported by the NEA--they were the NEA. They were all teachers who were also state senators or representatives and--as they made sure to mention--members of the teachers union. More such teachers-turned-legislators came up to talk to me afterwards. (Along with teacher union officials from at least three states.)
None of these people were particularly enamored with my comments. ("Don't shoot the messenger, please!") But that's beside the point. Where the heck were the reformers? The charter school people? The Democrats for Education Reform? Arne's folks?
Sometimes I think the reform crowd is winning, gaining strength, tipping the conversation. But today I remembered that we are vastly outgunned by an organization that has so much power that it has literally merged with elected government at the state and local levels.
We reformers like to cast this battle in David-versus-Goliath (or Rocky-versus-Apollo) terms. That's all well and good. But come on, we need to make this a fair fight. Reformers: Get out of Washington and New York and into the heartland, pronto!
