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Flypaper

Teacher to candidates: Don't blame me

Michael J. Petrilli
8.1.2008

Here's some pessimistic reading for your Friday morning, from California teacher Kate Applebee. Her thesis:

Yes, the responsibility of educating should rest on the shoulders of teachers, but as teachers, we cannot change the choices of students and their families. Unfortunately, neither presidential candidate is capable of the mind control necessary to influence the choices that students and their families make regarding education. True education reform can only begin with an adjustment to the attitudes and beliefs of the individuals directly affecting the state of education: the students and their families; it's an adjustment that remains nearly impossible in a democratic republic.

So true education reform is only possible in undemocratic regimes? Interesting. But she's right that it is unfortunate that neither candidate is capable of mind control.

Tags: California

President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Michael J. PetrilliĀ is president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, executive editor of Education Next, editor in chief of the Education Gadfly Weekly, host of the…

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