There's hope for the Washington, D.C. Public School System

Parent Cafe
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<p>The PBS NewsHour has been running a series on Michelle Rhee’s efforts as the new chancellor of the Washington, D.C. Public School System.</p>

<p>Ms. Rhee is a public servant of the highest caliber. Links to the NewHour videos along with a C-SPAN interview are below. Watch them and have your faith in public service revitalized.</p>

<p>[ul]
[li][D.C</a>. Schools Chief Rhee Faces High Expectations for System Reform](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec07/dcschools_11-19.html]D.C”>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec07/dcschools_11-19.html)[/li][li][In</a> Battle to Revamp D.C. Schools, Education Leader Faces Resistance](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june08/dcschools_02-07.html]In”>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june08/dcschools_02-07.html)[/li][li][Washington</a>, D.C., Schools Chief Faces Tough Choices](<a href=“http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june08/challenge_04-02.html]Washington”>http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june08/challenge_04-02.html)[/li][li][C-SPAN</a> Q&A: Brian Lamb interviews Michelle Rhee](<a href=“Q&A | Series | C-SPAN.org”>Q&A | Series | C-SPAN.org)[/li][/ul]</p>

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<p>If being a dedicated public servant was the only thing at work here, then her hiring would not be so significant. Rhee entered education through an alternative certification program (Teach for America) and is a strong believer in reforming the way teachers are trained, hired and fired. </p>

<p>There is more at work in the protests against her than precipitous closure of some schools.</p>

<p>She has quite a job on her hands. It is an interesting story.</p>

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<p>A nice bio on Ms. Rhee and more links are available from Wikipedia: [Michelle</a> Rhee](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Rhee]Michelle”>Michelle Rhee - Wikipedia)</p>

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<p>As a teacher, I say God bless her! We need reformers who can stand up to the unions and the parents.</p>

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<p>The Washington Post was running a series on the DC public schools when I was there over Christmas. It was pretty depressing - they are just so broken. Back when I went to Gordon Junior High you could still get an education.</p>