Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThisAugust 24, 2008--Something is brewing here in Denver. A day before the Democratic National Convention officially begins, a collection of proven education reformers have come together in the Denver Art Museum for the purpose of outlining a strategy for the Obama campaign. Their mission: To submit a letter with concrete details that they believe will provide the best chance for drastic educational reform in the United States. What is inspiring about this group is that their words hold genuine hope.
Among them, are those who've taken on the educational establishment of urban public school systems. Here's Michelle Rhee, the Chancellor of DC Public Schools who's shaken the long-failing school system across the river from me to the core. There's Joel Klein, the Chancellor of New York City Schools, and Michael Bennet, the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, and Cory Booker, the Mayor of Newark--all places where schools have been turned upside down. Then, there are those with proven track records of turning around underperforming schools and producing students ready to compete in the world: Don Shalvey of Aspire Public Schools and John King of Uncommon Schools, lead charter school companies on each coast that are getting results.
People unafraid of ruffling feathers that have lain in place for years are beginning a dialogue. "Sometimes change involves breaking some china and making enemies," says Joe Williams of Democrats for Educational Reform. Are these the stirrings of a mass reform in education? Or at least bold language in the Democrat's platform?
The speakers talk about the pressure from the educational establishment not to change. They talk about the idea of comparing students from the United States to those of other countries—and how American students have steadily fallen behind in every category that would make them competitive with their international counterparts. They discuss rewarding teachers for boosting their students' achievements, not for length of tenure. Perhaps most importantly, they acknowledge that while action happens at the local level, they need bold leadership in Washington to support their actions. They need their president to make superior education standards in the United States a top priority. And, repeatedly, this group says, in various ways, that they could not have come together four years ago, that conditions weren't right for them to meet in such a way.
Are these the stirrings of real educational reform in this country? Education has been mysteriously underplayed on the campaign trail. This group of reformers is putting together a letter for the Obama campaign with specific details about what it would take for real reform in the U.S.
You have my attention. I'm listening.
NEXT POST: Smarter Than An Eighth Grader?
PREVIOUS POST: Finding Answers—and Common Ground—at the Political Conventions
Advertisement 
