NYC Educator had a comical story today following Jay Matthews' (WaPo ed blogger/correspondent) ways to fix schools without spending a dime. Matthews' article was on the heels of Nicholas Kristof's op-ed in the Sunday New York Times. I certainly don't mind reporting about education. One thing that I learned while an undergraduate political science major was that too few people are participating in the discussion. Without discussion you end up with only a few people having their ideas being pushed, and it becomes a government of the priveledged, not one of the people (changing government is a whole different story).
My issue with Matthews and Kristoff is that they aren't really pushing great ideas. Charter schools, calling parents with kind words, and good pedagogy aren't going to make a dent in education. For one, while charter schools are all the rage they aren't shown to be the great education savior that is being pushed. They aren't a magic elixir, and pushing them to the public only further dilutes public faith in restoring public schools. Why help public schools when you can go to the magic charter school that cures everyone?
The shame in all of this is that Matthews and Kristoff write for large metropolitan newspapers. Others actually read their writing, and may start to drink the Kool-Aid. Why do we have to have people who aren't teachers, and have never experienced teaching, telling everyone what needs to be changed about teaching and education?
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