The Myth of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee
We're seeing the unravelling of the myths that unwittingly placed Michelle Rhee in the national spotlight as "reformer in chief" for public education, myths created initially and largely at the expense of DC school children and their teachers. They were myths promulgated by the media, particularly those catering to the right-wing, anti-public education crowd.
In my State of Michigan, Rhee was afforded an unusual platform in front of the legislature as reported by Mlive.com in the following post:
Michelle Rhee: Michigan lawmakers need to focus on reforms to help students, not the adults
Rhee, a 'rock star' of the reform movement, has appeared on magazine covers and in the documentary "Waiting for Superman," and is criticized by union leaders who say her reforms are too dependent on firing teachers and principals.
With an overflow crowd in the state Capitol, Rhee was asked about her experiences with issues including merit pay, evaluations, parental involvement and rules the require the most recently hired teachers to be the first laid off.
Yes, he did actually use the term, "rock star."
And as the next article demonstrates, Rhee was afforded access to the point she actually wrote or at least contributed to the spate of anti-teacher laws that recently passed the state legislature:
Probe shows union-busting Michelle Rhee wrote Michigan anti-teacher law The