Bringing On a Snow Job

That's not a lie, it's a terminological inexactitude. Also, a tactical misrepresentation. ~ Alexander Haig ~ A new report from the US Department of Education shows that charter school children perform no better, and in many cases worse, than their counterparts in regular public schools. The findings of this latest report largely confirm earlier statistics released by the American Federation of Teachers. Care to learn just what kind of spin the deputy education secretary, Eugene W. Hickok, put on this report in his news conference? "In case there's any doubt, we are big supporters of charter schools," Dr. Hickok said. "So as I read these studies on charter schools, I read them through that lens." He went on to say that the scores were "not a bad sign" and "in many ways charter students are holding their own." WOW! Holding their own . . . Wait a sec. Ummmm, Dr. Hickok? Is "holding their own" against regular public schools a new measure of success for the Education Department? Am I the only one who remembers that the argument for shifting education funds to charter schools was to end up with HIGHER performing students? I think I'm gonna lose it. Thank goodness my escape valve for this weekend is a three day ski trip with GHIW and friends Steve & Sara from Chicago. Good friends, good food, good snow - and a respite from the professional snow jobs being lobbed at me every morning. Enjoy your weekend, everyone.