In an interview with Education Week, defeated Indiana superintendent blamed his loss on the teachers’ union and on his support for the Common Core standards. He said that his challenger Glenda Ritz drew away some of his conservative base by criticizing the Common Core.
Bennett’s loss stunned supporters in the rightwing reform world.
It looks like Florida is in his future. He is a favorite of Jeb Bush, and Bush is a major player in Florida politics.
He fears that Ritz might find creative ways to strangle his beloved voucher program by regulation.
Remember when education politics was dull? No more.

Please keep Bennett away from Florida! We already have Rick Scott and Jeb Bush to deal with. Bennett will complete the Holy Trinity of teacher hating privatistas.
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From the article: when Petrilli learned that Bennett had lost his election in an upset against Glenda Ritz, the state’s teacher of the year, he let out a stream of expletives. “Tony Bennett! Sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t sh*t,” he said. “You can quote me on that.”
At least he consented to being quoted on that!
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“Remember when education politics was dull?”
Remember when no one paid attention to education? Who thought that would be the Good Ole Days?
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What a great fallback-blaming it on the unions. Fits right in with their union busting tactics doesn’t it? It’s the big bad union’s fault. These folks have no shame. Son sin vergüenzas.
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he left out hubris? No way!
cue it up at 33:00 or so. Hilarious.
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This idea that you’re doomed if you don’t have the support of the teachers union is preposterous. This blog has cited numerous examples of privatization candidates receiving way more campaign contributions (typically from people out of state) than those candidates the union is likely to support. It’s a false argument. The other side has just as much, if not more money.
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On Bob Sikes’ blog, he says that him coming to Florida may not be the best political move for Scott inasmuch as this guy was ousted in a state that went overwhelmingly for Romney. Jeb Bush took a bit political hit in the elections.
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