Ed Notes Online: Jeff Bryant: Is Tim Kaine a Sign Democrats Are Leaving the 'Education Reform Camp?':
Jeff Bryant: Is Tim Kaine a Sign Democrats Are Leaving the 'Education Reform Camp?'
....in reviewing Kaine’s education policy chops, what’s in his record may not be as important as what isn’t: the current education establishment’s policy checklist of standardization, high-stakes testing, allowing charter schools to sort students by income and ability, and keeping teachers under the authoritative thumb of test-based evaluations – there’s none of that.... The years progressives have put into organizing, voicing opposition to current education policies, and calling for new directions in education are likely having an effect on “this new Democratic Party” too. No wonder people who’ve enjoyed their cushy places at the top are nervous. --- Jeff Bryant
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| DFED - Democrats for Education Deform |
Hmmm. On the surface there is something I like about Tim Kaine though I don't know much. His wife was Virginia education commissioner and supposedly not a heavy ed deformer. Despite claims that supporters of Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders have substantially altered how public education is framed in the Democratic Party platform, I don't trust platforms, especially since Randi Weingarten is being given credit for some of the language in the platform. Ed issues were basically absent from any of the debates between Hillary and Bernie.
So I'm pretty disappointed that the pro-Bernie educators has very little impact on him in relation to education issues, which were practically buried in the primaries. As for Hillary -- there this comment from Michael Fiorillo who sent us the Jeff Bryant piece.
We'll see... I'm inclined to think Hillary will betray us, since as a general rule that's what she does... Michael Fiorillo
Jeff Bryant is a reliable reporter on ed issues, lining up against the ed deformers so I find this an interesting piece.
http://www.alternet.org/education/tim-kaine-education-reform
Is Tim Kaine a Sign Democrats Are Leaving the 'Education Reform Camp?'
Kaine is not a fan of high stakes testing, charter schools, or other pillars of reform orthodoxy.
An education “reform” establishment that has enjoyed the complete support of Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush may be getting nervous.
The policy outline for K-12 education coming from the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign remains vague, but supporters of Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders have substantially altered how public education is framed in the Democratic Party platform, and Clinton has become more strident in her attacks on “for-profit” charter schools and vouchers that allow parents to transfer their children to private schools at taxpayer expense.
At [last month's] Democratic Party National Convention in Philadelphia, experienced reporters from Education Week noticed that although Clinton generally pledges “to pick up the policy baton from President Barack Obama … it’s tough to say how true that will be when it comes to K-12 education.”
A Politico education journalist at the DNC reported that Shavar Jeffries, president of Democrats for Education Reform, a policy group that has gotten used to getting its way in the Obama administration, said, “There was ‘anxiety’ within the education reform movement over the future of [the movement’s] priorities.”
When DFER threw an event at the convention, the EdWeek reporters noted the mood was more about “soul Ed Notes Online: Jeff Bryant: Is Tim Kaine a Sign Democrats Are Leaving the 'Education Reform Camp?':
