John Merrow Rewrites History
John Merrow, education reporter for PBS (and funded, in part, by the Gates Foundation), has done some extraordinary work lately in uncovering the burgeoning cheating scandal in Washington, D.C. Merrow's reporting now calls into question the entire legacy of former Chancellor and current Queen of Reforminess, Michelle Rhee. Ironic, as Merrow is as responsible as anyone for catapulting Rhee into the national spotlight.
I can only assume that Merrow is now suffering a small attack of conscience, wondering about his own role in creating the myth of St. Michelle:
I'll have more to say about Merrow's thesis in a bit; for now, read these excellent commentaries from DianeMy question is about the public phenomenon known as “Michelle Rhee.” The one that’s has become America’s most prominent education activist. She’s loved by some, hated and/or feared by others. To her admirers, she’s a shining symbol of all that’s right in school reform. Her opponents see her as the representative of the forces of greed, privatization and teacher-bashing in education.Who created that character, that symbol? I can identify four possible parents: She created herself. We created her. “They” did. U did.
