A wrong-headed experiment in school leadership
Can you imagine the military anointing a school superintendent as a brigadier general? Of course you can’t, but this won’t surprise you: The Board of Education in Wake County, N.C., tapped a brigadier general who has no experience in instruction or academic leadership to be the new superintendent of the 143,000-student school system. Wake County Board of Education Chairman Ron Margiotta actually said, according to the Raleigh News & Observer, that Tata’s experience as a military strategist will complement Wake’s focus on academic achievement. Tata himself said in a written statement (see below) that "my military experience provides me a strong academic foundation." Of course. Actual direct professional experience in teaching, or in running a school, would be viewed as a negative in today's world of education reform. Don't look for logic; there isn't much.