Dear Mr. President, Part 1
Dear Second Term President Obama:
You are in an enviable position, perhaps the most enviable in the educational world today. You do not need to worry about re-election. You’ve got a good three years to affect substantial, meaningful change. You can say whatever the hell you want (sorry, but it's time to throw some Bill Russell elbows, Mr. President). You’ve got the microphone, the votes, and the next Supreme Court nomination(s). You’re a dad. You know the roots of American students, you know what it means to dream, and you went to Harvard.
Actually, the only way you can screw this up is by replacing Arne Duncan with Michelle Rhee.
The problems with public education today are not rooted in unions, lack of accountability, or Finland-envy. The problems are the politicians. Period. And, unlike all of those other local, state, and national posers, you Mr. President, no longer need to worry about getting elected. No politics. No fund raising. No debating