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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Waiting for Mark Twain « Failing Schools

Waiting for Mark Twain « Failing Schools

Waiting for Mark Twain

NOVEMBER 17, 2010
by Sabrina

Some days, I really wish Mark Twain were still around. In a time when schooling is increasingly the biggest thing interfering with children’s educations, he’d have a field day quipping about the hot mess that is “education” reform debate. I’d have a blast watching him.

He might be moved to update his thoughts on school boards. Perhaps he could do so with a little Churchillian twist: “School boards are the worst form of district governance…except formayoral control.” (I’m close to burned out on school board politics, so I won’t say much more, except that a change in mindset is in order. Please remember, it’s not your job to represent the district’s interests to the public. It’s your job to represent the public’s interests to the district. You do that by listening to constituents’ concerns, being well informed about the issues, and ensuring that district officials are making sound, just decisions in accordance with