To the Point
Can Obama's Education Chief Save the Nation's Schools?
Democrats are sharply divided between school "reformers" and so-called "traditionalists." They circulated competing manifestos during the presidential campaign: one side wants charter schools, merit pay and accountability for teachers; the other says don't blame teachers for failing schools, provide flexibility and better resources.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readDemocrats are sharply divided between school "reformers" and so-called "traditionalists." They circulated competing manifestos during the presidential campaign: one side wants charter schools, merit pay and accountability for teachers; the other says don't blame teachers for failing schools, provide flexibility and better resources. Barack Obama has chosen an education secretary who has endorsed both sides. Will that mean gridlock or will Chicago's Arne Duncan finally overcome the "tired… debates" that have stalled real education reform? What about "No Child Left Behind?"
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Frances Anderton
architecture critic and author
Sonya Geis
Senior Managing Editor
Christian Bordal
Managing Producer, Greater LA
Paul Tough
author, “The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us”
Joe Williams
Executive Director, Democrats for Education Reform
Randi Weingarten
American Federation of Teachers