For once, Davis Guggenheim is right. For once, Mike is wrong. Almost nobody uses their own kids as tools of school reform?and nobody should. You don't send your child to a school to improve the school. You send your child to a school that will improve him (or her). You should drive past bad schools in search of a better one for your kids?and the great dual?crime of American education policy is (1)? there are far too few truly better schools and (2) far too many families lack the means (or, in many places, the right) to opt into those schools. Of course we should do our best to turn around failing schools and close the worst among them. But that's bloody hard. Of course we should also start more great new schools?but that's hard, too.?And those are the proper mandates of educators and policy makers, of mayors and legislators and such. Advocates, too. The proper work of parents, however,?is to enroll their children in the best schools they can possibly find, whatever it takes, not to send them over the hill into withering hostile gunfire. Superman, alas, is not around when we need him, but I'd call Mike's?selfless but misguided?advice ?Waiting for Gallipoli.?
?Chester E. Finn, Jr.
