Do things need to get worse before reform takes hold?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008Written by: Uncle Charley
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Nowhere is education in more dire straits than in Washington, D.C. Of course, overhauling a dysfunctional system inevitably leads to turmoil and disaffection. But a new poll from the advocacy group Education Reform Now shows overwhelming support for the course of action taken to fix D.C. public schools. Not only the more modest reforms but also some of the messier business of reform elicits widespread approval:
In one of the most surprising elements of the poll, respondents were asked about the controversial March 6th firing by [D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle] Rhee of 98 DCPS employees under her newly-won ability to classify non-unionized central office workers as “at will” employees. The change was requested by [Mayor Adrian] Fenty and Rhee and approved by the City Council.
Two-thirds of respondents indicated they support Rhee‘s argument that she was attempting to establish a culture of accountability in the school system - 28% were opposed to the firings.
Among other things, the poll showed tremendous support for the district’s nascent public charter schools and publicly-funded scholarship program - as well as a general belief that the public schools have shown improvement as a result of the competition.
The survey appears to have been conducted before Rhee’s radical idea to change teacher pay was brought forward. Alan Gottlieb is right: this proposal is “several steps beyond ProComp”, including a more progressive, performance-based pay formula and an agreement to divest of the rights of tenure. In fact, this dramatic bargain — tenure for higher performance pay — mirrors what was attempted a few years ago in Colorado’s rural Ignacio School District, but on a much larger scale.
Inquiring minds want to know what the people of Washington, D.C., might think of Rhee’s radical idea. Why? To see if it has political legs to come to fruition. But also because Denver’s more modest ProComp is under assault - with the local teachers union gleefully celebrating satirical portrayals of the alleged “merit pay” program’s downfall.
Maybe reforms have a harder time surviving here because Denver schools haven’t reached the dire straits of their counterparts in Washington, D.C. What a sad commentary that is, as well as a clarion call to reformers for vigilance and determination.
