"I'm also eager to apply some of the lessons we have learned here in Chicago to help school districts all across our country:" Obama's Pick for Ed Head Managed a 17% Grade-Level-Reading Rate in the School District He Oversaw

Thank Goodness the Democrats are back in charge. It was really a tough eight years, with the country being run by incompetents and all.

Glad we've got the A-Team back in action.

When Arne Duncan grows up, he wants to ether be a fireman,
a cowboy, the Hulk or a dinosaur

In 2007, only 17 percent of eighth graders tested at or above grade level in reading in Chicago Public Schools – the school system administered by Arne Duncan since 2001.

President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday tapped Duncan to become secretary of education in the upcoming administration.

Duncan, hailed by Obama as a reformer, said he would like to take the lessons he learned in Chicago with him when he moves to Washington. “I'm also eager to apply some of the lessons we have learned here in Chicago to help school districts all across our country," Duncan said after Obama formally named him to the job in Chicago.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report for 2007, Chicago public schools have consistently performed below the national average during Duncan’s tenure.

Duncan said that America's children could succeed exactly the way Barack Obama did -- with the help of shady Chicago fixers and a nurturing, doting media. "I want to put CNN behind every child in America, and smother every student with Chris Matthews' borderline-sexual devotion," Duncan said.

I may have added that last bit.

Compromise? WSJ:

[W]e have argued on behalf of vouchers that would let parents of students in the poorest public schools have the same shot at a sound education as do more affluent children, such as those of Mr. Obama. The opposition from public teachers' unions to this or almost any significant reform is legendary. Thus, we listened closely when Senator Obama said nearly nothing during the campaign that would offend the unions, mostly urging more spending on preschool and after-school programs.

We now read that Mr. Duncan is an ardent proponent of public charter schools, though probably not of vouchers for private schools...

The three most innovative urban school chiefs are Michelle Rhee of the District of Columbia, Paul Vallas of New Orleans and Joel Klein of New York City. Had Senator Obama picked any of these, the unions would have gone to the mattresses in opposition. Arne Duncan is thus a compromise choice, and we will have more to say later on his record in Chicago. We know from experience, though, that any genuine school reformer eventually arrives at crunch time with these unions, and either confronts them or gives up.

Ah, the unions again. Back in charge.

posted by Ace at 03:15 PM

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