Portland principal wishes one-fourth of his teachers would leave

If ever there were a case to be made for allowing principals to hire and fire their staff, Portland's Whittaker Middle School is it. Principal Tom Pickett told The Oregonian that, until a quarter of his current teachers are replaced, pupils in his failing school won't stand much chance of being adequately educated. "School puts out SOS for teachers," by Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian, November 17, 2002