Why would Bill Gates be coming to the AFT convention?

[proud2BlibKansan]

I am on a planning committee for a caucus that is putting together some events at the upcoming AFT convention. Just heard that Bill Gates will be there at the convention.

Maybe he'll be giving money to teachers? Or pencils? :)

[patrice]

1. when will that be? Will there be any public sessions?

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. There are no details on the agenda

I'm keeping my fingers crossed he is not a keynote speaker. That would suck, especially compared to past keynotes.

There is a rumor they are trying to get Diane Ravitch to speak. That would be awesome.

[davidinalameda]

2. his foundation does work in the area of education

so maybe that's why

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I know that

And hence, the reason I'd rather he not be an honored guest. :)

[Hannah Bell]

6. do tell.

[Hannah Bell]

5. to bribe some people?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Maybe he'll be giving away computers to cash starved teachers!!

Oh never mind. They'd be PCs. I'm a Mac person. :)

[Starry Messenger]

8. He's a giver.

A caring nurturer.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. LOL!

That picture is going to give me nightmares.

[Orlandodem]

10. Why doesn't someone challenge him to teach at an inner city school

for one school year and see if he still thinks that teachers ought to be judged primarily by test scores?

[Hannah Bell]

11. the only way bill would last a day is if he handed out bribes. that's his usual MO anyway, though..

bill gates: heir to 4 generations of elite connections.

[Hannah Bell]

12. and this needs a kick too..

[Vampire Knight]

13. Amen.

In my state, the 11th grade test is called the "exit level", and it determines partially whether a student can graduate or not. So students at my school think that the 9th and 10th grade tests are irrelevant and thus don't care. It's a source of endless headaches. Should the teachers really be judged for the students' disregard...or for the state's ridiculous system for that matter?

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I did.

I sent him an email several years ago. I even offered to write him a reference.

He never replied.