Michelle Rhee is endorsing and funding rightwing candidates across the nation, showering cash on those who are opposed to teachers’ rights and unions and support privatization of public education.
In Ohio, she is using her StudentsFirst millions–collected from anonymous billionaires, millionaires and corporations–to support opponents of public education.
Now, here in Ohio, Michelle Rhee’s true colors simply cannot be ignored. Rhee has chosen to fund multiple candidates in Ohio who are running for the Ohio House this year, citing their individual votes to support the Kasich budget that cut public education funding by $1.8 billion as a reason for StudentsFirst’s support. Let me restate that: StudentsFirst supports these candidates because they supported Kasich’s budget that cut $1.8 billion from school funding.
PlunderBund (http://s.tt/1rpCF)
Of all her endorsements in Ohio, the most disgusting is that Rhee is supporting a candidate with no education experience running against Maureen Reedy, an experienced and admired teacher. The two are candidates for an open seat in the 29th district.
Maureen Reedy was a teacher for 29 years. Rhee claims to “love” effective teachers. Maureen Reedy was Ohio’s Teacher of the Year in 2002. But Michelle Rhee is supporting her Republican opponent.
Maureen Reedy has pledged to expose the frauds that allow profiteers to waste millions of taxpayers’ dollars in Ohio. She has pledged to support public education in the state legislature. And that is why Rhee opposes Maureen Reedy.
This election tells us who Michelle Rhee is. She supports far-right Republicans, not Democrats. She supports those who voted to defund public education. She supports those who advocate for privatization of public education and who benefit from ineffective, for-profit schools. She does not support effective teachers. She opposes effective teachers.
Forget what she calls herself.
Judge her by her actions.
She is a rightwing Republican who hates public education and those who support it.
Want to know why Rhee opposes Maureen Reedy? Here is an excerpt from an article Reedy wrote for the Columbus Dispatch:
Charter schools are a poor investment of Ohio’s education dollars and have a worse track record than public schools in our state; there are twice as many failing charter schools as successful ones, and one in two charter schools is either in academic emergency or academic watch, compared with only one in 11 traditional public-school buildings. Five of seven of Ohio’s largest electronic-charter-school districts’ graduation rates are lower than the state’s worst public-school system’s graduation rate, and six of seven of the electronic charter schools districts are rated less than effective.
And finally, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow has failed in every identified state category for eight years, a worse track record than the Cleveland City School system, which is under threat of being shut down by the state. The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow is run by unlicensed administrators. Lager, in addition to his $3 million salary, earned an additional $12 million funneled through his software company, which sells products to his charter-school corporation. Just how much does the average teacher in the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow earn you may ask? Approximately $34,000 per year.
“She is a rightwing Republican who hates public education and those who support it.”
And it appears one can say the same thing about Obama and Duncan.
So don’t vote for Obama. He’s bad for schools and bad for the country
Didn’t the last time and won’t this time!
Rhee is quite simply, and nothing more than, a money bribing wh___ for the wealthy privatizing, profiteering philanthropimps. And I am being nice. At least she had a back up profession when this collapses.
Don’t need a back up profession when one has already whored so much money!
More about knittogetherinlove here…..cyber charter victim:
http://knittogetherinlove.wordpress.com/the-virtues-of-virtual-charter-schools/#comment-3
No need for name calling or cyber bullying.
Online charter school was a good experience for two years. The curriculum was head and shoulders above what they got at local school. We, however, withdrew from the online charter school, because it was still beholden to the government. It taught to the test, there was so much test prep that it took the joy of learning out of it. And it dictated how I interacted with my kids in our home. I was nagging them to “get it done,” instead of enjoying learning. My kindergartener is tested to read at a 2nd grade level, but she still had to take kindergarten and 1st grade phonics. She wasn’t being challenged in that situation. And she would be even more bored in local elem. K. So our only choice was homeschool.
So we’re homeschooling now. We are enjoying learning and my kids are thriving. Don’t talk to me about “structure,” structure is more for the teachers to help them handle 25 students. Don’t talk to me about “socialization.” It’s defined as 1) making socialistic (No thanks!), or 2) being fit company (everyone tells me my kids are delightful).
I would recommend an online charter school to parents who are struggling with their kids in neighborhood schools. But personally, I can’t stand it anymore.
Well, that’s not classy language. I sure am glad that you aren’t my kids’ teacher.
We’re glad you’re not the parent of one of our students. Relief!
Language is very much context driven. What is appropriate in one setting may or may not be appropriate in another. Frankly, I couldn’t give a caca about “classy language”. “Classy language” is a means to keep the unruly masses under control. One must be proper you know-may I regurgitate now?
Sadly, it’s not only Republicans who hate public education; Democrats from the top down are supporting the same “reforms” with equal vigor. Public education is under attack from all sides.
So don’t vote for either one. Stay home.
No, vote third party.
Um, haven’t you learned from history, or personal experience that voting for a third party will throw your vote away? Sad, but true. But I like your name. You have the same name as my husband.
Don’t you teachers get it? You complain about Race to the Top and other programs like NCLB and in my state the public school teachers (and parents) complain about Commom Core. Those are all federal programs that will give the schools more funding if they comply with the standards. You guys complain about it, but are still supporting Obama, or a third party which will likely get Obama reelected.
Romney and the conservatives want to bring education administration to the local level–away from the federal government. If the control is brought to a local level, the states and counties can know better how to fund the schools. They won’t need to comply with the federal regulation standards. Most people don’t think that teaching to the test is effective. If control is at a local level, then teachers will have more freedom to teach how they think is best. The joy of learning can be experienced. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
The federal government owns 70% of the land in my state. Our Republican governor and other state leaders would like our state to own that. Obama has shut down 90% of our oil rich fields. And Obama has prevented us from coal mining. Romney is for states’ rights. And he is for using our resources wisely. If he is elected, our state will be able to thrive economically. And our Republican politicians (I live in a very red state) want to make those resource-rich lands pay for public education. If we could do that, our public schools will thrive.
Under Obama, none of that good stuff will happen.
So do us all a favor, wake up, get yourselves well informed. Romney is a gem! Vote for him. Don’t listen to the NEA, they’ve got an ulterior agenda. To quote a song, “Free your minds/ don’t be so shallow.”
I hate to disillusion you but the Republican educational platform is exactly like the Democrats. I am living their version of “reform” in Louisiana right now. Our Republican governor, Bobby Jindal and his TFAer John White are destroying public education. No one in this country should let either candidate’s educational platform decide his or her vote because there is no difference!
Proving once again that the Dems were idiots to give her a platform at the convention with “Won’t Back Down” which btw, Won’t Break Even given its poor box office.
Wonder if she is connected to this group of reform supporting businessmen?
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2012/10/30/business_leaders_not_budging_o.html/?cxntfid=blogs_postcards
Just in time for Halloween…
This should be forwarded to every media outlet that ever has Rhee on as an advocate for putting “students first” and demand that they confront her about it.
Ms. Ravitch, with every article you blog, you also show your true colors. The colors of a teachers’ union thug.
As compared to a privatizing pimp?
And yet you criticize someone upthread for not using “classy” language? Dr. Ravitch doesn’t have anything to do with unions. And speaking the truth is not being a “thug.”
More about the knitblahblah…..moniker here:
http://knittogetherinlove.wordpress.com/the-virtues-of-virtual-charter-schools/
Yuck. I think that the “knitblahblah” is from my state. Lovely.
And you remind me of my college roommate who was student teaching and brought home art that the kids did. She made fun of it and called them “retards.” She got hired immediately after graduation.
Utah?
I’m sorry I shouldn’t have used that term, “union thug.” It wasn’t classy. I have read a few articles of Ravitch’s that are good and uplifting. There are, however, many articles that are very biased toward the teachers’ unions. They echo the same attitudes and talking points as the NEA. For example, that parents don’t have the ability to choose what’s best for their kids, especially in education. And there’s an article giving big support to the Chicago teachers’ union strike, which selfishly distrupted the lives almost a half-million kids, just because they didn’t want to be evaluated. She also is very anti-Romney to the point of not giving the full message of policies and interviews and being extremely and unrealistically negative.
So what am I to think?
Just in my defense, I would NEVER call my students retards. I don’t let my students use that word, either.
I find it ironic that you would be concerned about her “negative” tone, when “reformers” tend to find (or make up) every negative comment in the world.
“knit together in love”?!?! What?
Sorry, but your name is absolutely Orwellian. It reminds me of Jim Jones and his “People’s Temple”.
“Love” doesn’t call organized labor “thugs” nor use vicious, hateful language against a grandmother.
Shame on you. “Love” of what, exactly, anyway?
Is she knitting us together in love yet?
I saw a very funny bumpersticker once that read:
I knit do I don’t kill people. After reading her posts I feel more tied up in knots.
Typo: so I don’t kill people….wish I could edit.
Well, don’t kill anybody. There’s too much of that going on. A lot of kids are getting murdered.
Do you go to a doctor’s office and tell him/her what medicine to prescribe or what test to run? Parents aren’t the professionals when it comes to the academic life of a student; teachers are highly trained–at least for now they are unless your state has already succumbed to the TFAer 5 week training course–and do know educationally what is best for children. A parent knows their child best, but they aren’t necessarily the most informed when it comes to educational matters. Even educated parents may not know why certain choices are made by teachers and principals. Professional educators don’t make decisions on a whim. We are as trained as your doctor and your dentist and any other profession you can name. In some cases probably more so!
That doctor scenario has been used many times by teachers to defend their profession against parents who dare to have a choice in education. It’s a worn out taling point. Nice try, but the statistics are in my favor.
What statistics? I haven’t see you use one.
If you hate public educators so much, why do you bother to read Ravich’s blog. I will spend no more time on a bitter, uninformed teacher-hater. Get a life!
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) must be upheld by the supreme court:
The numerous despicable attempts to restrict voting made during the last election cycle are proof of that. Anyone who truly believes the VRA is obsolete needs to recognize, given last year’s voter suppression efforts, the Jim Crowe era is biding its time.
Now even if you are dumb enough to believe that all is OK with the world and there are no reasons to have the voting rights act on the books. Then why are the the parties at opposite end’s on this? Why are the Republicans in America trying to keep people from the poles ?
The argument is that VRA is discriminatory against Southern states to require them but not other states to seek pre-clearance for voting laws; I actually agree. The Voting Rights Act should require *ALL* states to seek pre-clearance. After what we’ve seen the GOP try to pass in states all across the nation prior to the last 2012 election, I see no reason this safeguard against voter suppression should be limited to just Southern states as suggested by VRA of 1965 but now should be expanded to apply to ALL 50 states.
Ajay Jain
ajain31@gmail.com
1209 Creekwood Drive
Garland TX 75044-2421
Michelle Rhee – The famous former Washington DC School District Chancellor
Michelle Rhee on OPRAH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPsqO17f6Lw
Michelle Rhee on abc’s ThisWeek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nep1mcaFthU
Michelle Rhee on The DailyShow with Jon Stewart
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/michelle-rhee
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/exclusive—michelle-rhee-extended-interview-pt–2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-4-2013/exclusive—michelle-rhee-extended-interview-pt–3
pbs.org FRONTLINE: The Education of Michelle Rhee
http://video.pbs.org/video/2323979463/ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/education-of-michelle-rhee/
Why Teach For America works – Michelle Rhee
A Two-Tier Proposal for Teacher Pay – Michelle Rhee
Time Magazine: Rhee Tackles Classroom Challenge
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444-2,00.html
Michelle Rhee Discusses “Waiting for Superman,” Charter Schools And Sch… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLih24QdwH8
Stanford University: A Conversation on “Waiting for Superman” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzrjo7Fvs1A
“Radical” Fighting to Put Students First should be a must read for all studentsfirst.org members! Michelle Rhee’s new book, “RADICAL: Fighting to Put Students First,” is now in stores! For more information about where you can find it, to read an excerpt from the book, and to share your story about education in America visit the official site at http://www.edradical.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/edradical.
http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/michelle-rhee/510ff3b02b8c2a138f000747
Michelle Rhee at the ACE 2011 Spring Luncheon https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=mO9F-amHDuw
Michelle Rhee and Kevin Johnson (4/20/11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=OCcNzh7C_Tk&feature=endscreen
Michelle A. Rhee 03.17.11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD0g8Jb9l78
Cornell Alumni: Olin Lecture 2012: Michelle Rhee ’92https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwFD-wkAEi8
Harvard Public Health: Michelle Rhee, Former Chancellor of Washington D.C. Public Schoolshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH0twXcxNUY
http://fora.tv/2013/02/07/Michelle_Rhee_Fighting_to_Put_Students_First
Geoffrey Canada – Conversations at KCTS 9
Geoffrey Canada interviewed by Julian Bond: Explorations in Black Leadership …
“Waiting for Superman” the documentary and Bloomberg documentary “Risk Takers” Michelle Rhee should a required screening for all studentsfirst.org members. I saw them on Netflix and became an instant member of studentsfirst.org and Michelle Rhee follower.
“Won’t Back down” the movie is another example to screen to all studentsfirst.org members.
Share the reasons you fight for education reform. Your story will inspire others to get involved. So tell us: Why are you working to put students first? http://www.studentsfirst.org/facebook-story
Check out today’s blog by StudentsFirst staffer Charity Hallman, “One size fits all, or so they said,” on The Fordham Institute’s “Education Gadfly Daily: FLYPAPER” blog.
To view the Fordham study, “When Teachers Choose Pension Plans: The Florida Story,” visit http://www.studentsfirst.org/fordham-study-on-fl-teacher-pension-reform
Watch MAKER videos on StudentFirst Founder Michelle Rhee visit http://www.makers.com/michelle-rhee