"We Need Someone Like Michelle Rhee" proclaims an editorial headline in the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo . Apparently, the D.C. Chancellor of Schools is playing an inspirational role in the upcoming election for Seoul's superintendent of education. Particularly noteworthy: her innovative merit pay scheme, her consolidation of schools, her shake up of school leaders, and, of course, rising test scores.
While the editorial does not support one candidate in particular, it does take the time to speak out against the candidate on the "leftwing" (their word, not mine) Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union ticket. Specifically, this candidate argues against school choice and publishing academic achievement levels. The editors explain:
But in order to save our schools from being carried away by efforts to make all schools uniform and face lowered education standards in the process, we must let students and parents choose which high schools they want to attend and promote competition among teachers by letting everyone know which schools excel and which lag behind.
Absolutely.
Chosun Ilbo covered Rhee's reforms in more depth yesterday .
