In a demonstration of the importance that he attaches to the weighty work of the Ohio State Board of Education, Governor John Kasich appointed a former quarterback at Ohio State University to a seat on the state board. His choice, Stanley Jackson,plans to open a charter school for African American males. He played for Ohio State in 1996 and 1997. It is said that he shares the governor’s vision for education in Ohio.
In another recent development in Ohio, the state education department was shocked, shocked to discover that a for-profit charter company was making a profit and using the extra money to fund its other operations.
There are two great websites to learn about education in Ohio. One is http://www.plunderbund.com, which casts a properly skeptical eye on the depredations of the state’s education leaders.
The other is http://10thperiod.blogspot.com/. I have been reading this blog since I visited Cleveland in the spring, and it is a deeply knowledgeable discussion of the politics of education in Ohio.
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is part of a trend I’ve seen here in Michigan – celebrity policy-making. It’s an extension of the traveling shows of Michelle Rhee and Jeb Bush. When Rhee talked to the Michigan legislature last year many legislators seemed in awe. The same thing happened when Jalen Rose, a former University of Michigan basketball star, talked to them about education and the need for more charter schools. He was an expert, I guess, being about to open a charter school in Detrot. His qualifications, other than as a basketball star, we’re that he had attended Detroit Public Schools and he had lots of money.Legislators were posing for pictures with him and getting his autograph. Celebrity policy-making in action.
LikeLike
Celebrity culture alive and well in the U.S.A!! Being a sports star, a media star, a CEO star, a philanthropic star, i.e., Gatesby, being an “Educational Expert” star, a la Rheeject, is all it takes to know exactly what should be done with public education. Heaven forbid we might institute changes that those with the most knowledge about teaching and learning in the public schools would do-the teachers. Can’t do that they’re not “STARS” nor “CELEBRITIES”.
LikeLike
I am not surprised by any absurd news coming from our governor here in Ohio. Unfortunately he has many like minded political leaders taking our schools in the wrong direction. Case in point the Brecksville-Broadview Heights (suburb of Cleveland) school board promises the voters a “school system they can afford”. We have earned 13 years of Excellence with Distinction on the state school report card and this school board is “rewarding” us by with a proposed contract that includes: 6 percent pay cuts, reduction of planning/prep time 50 percent, replacing our current medical coverage with a much less desirable one and expecting us to contribute more and changes in special ed which could dismantle our present, effective plan. This is public knowledge and is available to all via the link “negotiations” on our school web page. These same board members have been heard saying,: no teacher working here should be able to afford to live here; this will not effect that many families because most of the teachers are women and it is only a second income; we will still attract the most talented teachers; our students would achieve these high standards because they come from good families. They have shown a lack respect for their teachers and staff and it has been so demoralizing that many are searching for the way to retire as soon as possible.
LikeLike
Of course a former football player (and college dropout) is qualified. We have a former basketball player as Secretary of Education. Neither of them knows anything about teaching or education. You mean that’s required?
LikeLike