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Saturday, October 23, 2010

This Week In Education: Reform: Republican Gov. Chris Cristie Makes Unlikely Champion

This Week In Education: Reform: Republican Gov. Chris Cristie Makes Unlikely Champion

Reform: Republican Gov. Chris Cristie Makes Unlikely Champion

image from si.wsj.net
Here's the profoundly disturbing fixed-grin photo of NJ Gov Chris Cristie, Oprah Winfrey, Cory Booker, and the Facebook guy (Mark Zuckerburg) accompanying this WSJ article rehashing the fight between Cristie and the teachers union (and making a big bolt-on deal out of his supposed presidential ambitions). What makes it interesting is the thought that, in a post Michelle Rhee world, Cristie is reformers' unchosen new champion -- their loudest voice against the status quo, etc. Awkward, no, to be tied to a big blustering white guy -- even if


Weekend Reading: New Yorker On Bullying, Reform™, Etc.


261.x600.feat.essentials.illio9The New Yorker on bullying, drug sniffing dogs for rent, Reform™, and more to come: Behind the anti-gay bullying New Yorker: The problem is a culture of exposure that is far more advanced than any efforts to combat online cruelty. Bullying feeds on weakness, anger, and, lately, the systematic undervaluing of privacy. There’s such a thing as violating your own privacy, too... Wanna be a School Reformer? You Better do Your Homework! Gary Stager: In public education today, unqualified is the new qualified. The celebration of inexperience and lack of preparation is particularly disconcerting when it comes to education policy. When you allow billionaires, ideologues, pop singers and movie viewers to define reform, you get Reform™... Company Renting Drug-Sniffing Dogs to Insane Parents [Parenting] Gawker: A Maryland company is renting out trained drug-sniffing dogs for $200 an hour. The target customer: Parents who want to find their