Richard Garner meets the woman who lives to sack teachers
Michael Gove yesterday endorsed the policies of an American education expert who advocates sacking large numbers of incompetent teachers.
Michelle Rhee has earned a reputation as a "witchfinder general of the classroom" in the US, identifying under-performing teachers and forcing them out of the profession.
She also advocates dramatic pay rises for talented teachers who help pupils obtain good grades.
This week she flew into Britain to pass on her experience to ministers and education officials – and the Education Secretary indicated that her hard-nosed policies could well be adopted here.
"Michelle points out in everything she does that what they [children] need is the most effective teacher who demands the highest standards and is
Headteacher TV sacking: Mary Bousted and Michelle Rhee
A union leader said the on-air sacking of an American headteacher was the "ultimate humiliation".
The ATL's Mary Bousted tackled Michelle Rhee, who used to run Washington schools, on her dismissal of a head teacher which was shown in a TV programme.
The pair debated American lessons for UK schools, claims of cheating in the US system, and how under-performing teachers were removed in Britain.
Michelle Rhee's Washington lessons for Michael Gove
The former head of schools in America's Washington DC sacked 1,000 teachers, closed more than 30 schools and got rid of two-thirds of the headteachers under her control in a bid to drive up standards.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has described Michelle Rhee, who is in the UK to look at English schools, as his hero for her work in one of the worst-performing school districts in the US.
David Thompson looked at her career.
Michelle Rhee has earned a reputation as a "witchfinder general of the classroom" in the US, identifying under-performing teachers and forcing them out of the profession.
She also advocates dramatic pay rises for talented teachers who help pupils obtain good grades.
This week she flew into Britain to pass on her experience to ministers and education officials – and the Education Secretary indicated that her hard-nosed policies could well be adopted here.
"Michelle points out in everything she does that what they [children] need is the most effective teacher who demands the highest standards and is
Headteacher TV sacking: Mary Bousted and Michelle Rhee
A union leader said the on-air sacking of an American headteacher was the "ultimate humiliation".
The ATL's Mary Bousted tackled Michelle Rhee, who used to run Washington schools, on her dismissal of a head teacher which was shown in a TV programme.
The pair debated American lessons for UK schools, claims of cheating in the US system, and how under-performing teachers were removed in Britain.
Michelle Rhee's Washington lessons for Michael Gove
The former head of schools in America's Washington DC sacked 1,000 teachers, closed more than 30 schools and got rid of two-thirds of the headteachers under her control in a bid to drive up standards.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has described Michelle Rhee, who is in the UK to look at English schools, as his hero for her work in one of the worst-performing school districts in the US.
David Thompson looked at her career.