At his resignation press conference, Tony Bennett said the stories in the media about his actions in Indiana were “malicious and unfounded.” He said that Governor Rick Scott and powerbroker Jeb Bush wanted him to stay, but he didn’t want anything to distract from educating the kids of Florida.
Bob Sikes, who reported the story in his blog, wondered why Bennett was so quick to resign: “Bennett’s quick surrender is out of character. Moreover, if the story that has evolved out of his emails is indeed “unfounded, malicious and politically motivated,” he would have been vindicated in soon order. Especially with the powerful education reform industry ready to go to the mat for him.”
Sikes speculates that “Bennett probably knows that more will be coming out and couldn’t tell Scott and Bush the entire story last night. Remaining would embarrass them and quite a bit of damage has been done already. Today was his last day in the sun he used the opportunity to beat his own drum with sanctimony.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Chris Hayes, MSNBC…has Tony Bennett lined up during this hour, 8-9pm EST
Countdown to job offer from StudentsFirst…3…2…
I was no fan of Bennett (or Gov. Scott) before this was made public, but it totally galls me that he would even dare to mention “the kids of Florida.” That those words could make it past his lips is yet another abomination.
Those are MY kids you’re talking about, Mr. Bennett, and you do NOT care about them. I and the other Florida teachers do, and we’ll continue to do so long after you are gone.
The only ones worse that the Bennet’s, Huffman’s and Rhee’s of the world are the ones that hire/sponsor them.
And protect and lie for them…namely Jeb Bush, Arne and Obama.
Lying is in the DNA of these charlatans.
Chuck… Wall Mart was a big sponsor and supporter!
Obama, Duncan, Scott. Bush, Rhee, Gates, Murdoch…they all know. This is S.O.P. for these well connected weasels, and the only problem for them here is the story about the hand and the cookie jar-one of their guys got caught. (Hey, NY Commissioner King-there’s an idea for a story way better than that pineapple one! The hand wouldn’t get eaten-in case you’re worried about a really stupid story making it to a test that could impact teacher jobs ). This Bennett deal isn’t revelation or a game changer (sadly), but an opportunity for the parasites to realign and attack from a different policy angle with different people. Look for Neil Bush to replace.
Bennett in Florida/Indiana and Byrd-Bennett in Chicago are corrupt, corrupting and corrupted. They are a disease that is spreading, They both belong in jail. http://reclaimreform.com/2013/08/01/national-bennetts-in-jail-day/
What a great way to start a new year!
The house of cards is collapsing.
Here’s the Chris Hayes, all in segment on Bennett. Very good, covered a lot.
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/all-in-/52648266
As for the cozy relationship between Obama, Duncan, Jeb! Bush, Bennet, etc., it takes one to know one. I hope/wish that this would expose all of them.
have you seen the Indiana Bennett e-mails?
http://transparentchristina.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/florida-chief-who-has-same-policies-as-governormarkell-resigns-in-disgrace-check-out-the-e-mails-great-job-by-ap-reporters/
Yes-I saw them and wonder how Bennett even dares to posture…guess it’s that same thing that makes Weiner insist that his lack of character and the layer of slime on him have nothing to do with our trust that he can handle “the issues”. Bennett right off the bat saying anything less than an “A” for Christel House compromises their accountability work sparks so many great questions.
1) Mr. Bennett, isn’t that exactly the purpose of your accountability work-to have a system that holds schools accountable?
2) Mr. Bennett, did you have a plan to protect and promote Christel House while undermining the reputation of other schools, and if not, how would Christel House being identified as less than an A compromise the work you’ve done?
3) What was your plan to make school a better place for students, parents, and honest, dedicated educators?
I think it’s typical and really disturbing that there is absolutely no concern from reformers about whether the skewed system lowered the scores of any public schools.
I’ve now read 3 or 4 hand-wringing pieces over what this does to “reform efforts” and “the accountability movement” but not one single word on how Bennett’s screwing with the numbers might have lowered the grade in any actual Indiana public school.
He was hired and paid to improve public schools. All of them. He was not hired and paid to exclusively manage the “choice” schools he prefers or to advance his ideological theories on “choice” or “accountability”. If he changed scores in a way that harmed actual, existing Indiana public schools while benefitting “his” schools, that should be the concern.
Yet it isn’t. Why is that?
Reformers don’t need a new scoring system. They need to be read a one-sentence job description.
Who are they working for? Charter schools? The “reform movement”? If that’s true they’re in the wrong job, and they should all get off the public payroll.
There is no concern from reformers because the skewed system is their plan to reform.
Every Indiana parent with a kid in a public school should be given those emails. They spent 4 days bumping up scores for 13 charter schools. I don’t know how many public schools are left in Indiana, but I would think there are many, many more than 13.
How’d the scoring system work out for public schools, you know, the schools we’re supposedly paying them to “improve”? Any “high-performing” schools there that got an “unfair” score? Did anyone care? Apparently not. Not a lot of concern for those children.
Might be worthwhile to look at all the emails. I’d like to compare the time and energy expended on public v charter schools across the board in states reformers are running. Arne Duncan may have (inadvertently!) said something true when he told us “we” shouldn’t abandon public schools.
I find this very encouraging and I am very very grateful to whoever it is that kept the pressure on. Thank you to Diane Ravitch, CPS teachers, and all who are willing to endure the heartbreak of seeing how bad this is to keep up the fight for quality public education for *all*. I am very grateful!!!
Meanwhile my daughter got her schedule yesterday and there was a blank where her Algebra II teacher was supposed to be. They can’t hire a math teacher for love or money (well, they’re not offering much of either). Four of her 7 teachers are nearly brand new. The experienced teachers are leaving for the local STEM school or going into administration. The evaluation system and pressure and ridiculously low pay are combining to drive experienced teachers out of teaching.
Bob Sikes?
Howard Denson, Jax, FL
Yes
Bob Sikes!
I corrected it
In case you’re interested, Jordan Ellenberg (a mathematician at Wisconsin-Madison) has an article in Slate today that explains the math of the Bennett scandal and shows that he really is lying.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/do_the_math/2013/08/tony_bennett_education_an_astonishing_act_of_statistical_chutzpah_in_the.single.html
Malicious and unfounded?
He ought to know about that, along with all the other reformers.
I am so happy that he resigned, I think I’ll have a drink and toast to his demise.
Quite a victory. Who’s Next!!