RAVITCH: Michelle Rhee doesn't want the kind of school she's selling for her own kid

[yurbud]

Unfortunately, the same can be said of most of the politicians and billionaire self-appointed education "experts" who are killing our public schools with repetitive standardized testing, to make way for privatized, for-profit charter schools and education management companies.

My wife is a special ed teacher, and I asked her how often they have to give the standardized tests, and she said it amounted to once every two months. I can't imagine any decent prep school doing anything of the sort.

Michelle Rhee’s School Choice in Nashville
by dianerav
Michelle Rhee was interviewed by "The City Paper" in Nashville.

The story describes her thus: "A Tennessee transplant, she is turning her attention to schools in her new state." It also refers to the "roots" she is "setting" in Nashville. Apparently, she never told the reporter that she lives in Sacramento, not Nashville. She describes herself as a "public school parent" because one of her daughters attends public school in Nashville. But she did not acknowledge that her older daughter goes to an excellent private school, Harpeth Hall School ("Nashville, TN's only independent, college-preparatory school for girls, grades 5-12”).

One can hardly blame her for choosing Harpeth Hall. It has an 8:1 student/teacher ratio, with a median class size of 13. Class sizes in public schools in Nashville and other cities are much, much larger.

I bet that Harpeth Hall does not give standardized tests and does not evaluate teachers based on their students' test scores.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Michelle Rhee became an advocate for small class size, and for the same goals and purposes for all children that she wants for her own child?

FULL TEXT

[yurbud]

1. Does her daughter's school mission statement sound like what ed reformers want for our kids?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Michelle Rhee became an advocate for small class size, and for the same goals and purposes for all children that she wants for her own child?

Read here the inspiring mission and purpose of the school in the Faculty handbook:

Harpeth Hall is an independent college preparatory school for young women where each student realizes her highest intellectual potential, becomes fluent in the sciences, the humanities, and the arts, and discovers her creative and athletic talents. Harpeth Hall develops responsible citizens who have global perspectives and make a meaningful contributions to their communities and to the world. With a tradition of excellence and a commitment to lifelong learning, Harpeth Hall educates young women to think critically, to lead confidently, and to live honorably.

Our Core Purpose is to nurture a sense of wonder, to cultivate a will and facility for learning, and to promote cultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and service to others. The pursuit of these goals will inspire students and faculty to combine knowledge with goodness and reflection
with action.

dianerav | January 14, 2013 at 10:54 am | Categories: Michelle Rhee | URL: http://wp.me/s2odLa-14051

It's hard to imagine any of this being taught with just the letters A-E.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. But ...

One can hardly blame her for choosing Harpeth Hall. It has an 8:1 student/teacher ratio, with a median class size of 13. Class sizes in public schools in Nashville and other cities are much, much larger.

I thought student/teacher ratios didn't matter?

[yurbud]

3. unless it's your kid.

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. I know n/t

[yurbud]

6. I know you know, I just wanted to acknowledge your good point.

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. I know you know I know ...

I just wanted to acknowledge your good point, too.

[yurbud]

8. now we are getting into a "nice" fight, which as a courtesy, I would let you win

although that in itself is pretty damn nice.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. But ... But ...

I was letting you win because I am pretty damn nice.

{I hope you realize I'm just pulling your chain?!? We agree on this completely}

[yurbud]

13. We'll call it a draw. I've just found the competition to be nicer funny since the first time

it happened to me with a girl I wanted to take out for her birthday.

I asked her where she wanted to go and she said wherever I wanted to go, but I said since it was her birthday, she should choose. I'm still not sure if either of us wanted to go wherever we ended up.

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. LOL. n/t

[yurbud]

4. even in college and grad school, a big selling point of private schools is class size

[patrice]

9. K&R !

[Jefferson23]

11. Rhee, the nightmare attacking childrens public education has her daughter

in a private school that does not adopt her idiotic approach?

What a shock.

[yurbud]

12. no sin is big enough to punish or even shame if you carry water to the very wealthy