i've never seen rhee look so flummoxed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh get real. I'm white, I have a PhD, I care deeply about education and I voted against Fenty (for a myriad of reasons, including Rhee). Her scorched earth policies haven't yielded any significant improvement and she's creating an environment that's toxic enough to drive some of the best teachers out of DCPS. Reiner, Siebens, Martel, Brandenburg, "the Reflective Educator" have been some of the casualties.

And it's just plain racist to claim that black voters in DC don't care about education. Their kids/schools have suffered the most under Rhee -- the level of churn we're experiencing is just stunning and it's no basis for reform.

It hasn't been a purge or a re-education process, it's more like Rhee channeling the Red Queen and yelling "off with their heads" whenever anything doesn't go as she'd planned. And it never does go as she planned because she doesn't know WTF she's doing.

Really?! Are your kids in private school or a charter or Catholic? If so, you don't have a dog in this fight and as far as I'm concerned your motivation is highly suspect. Once the plantation chaos is restored it is patently obvious who will really be in control. And it won't be black folks. You are fooling no one.
And I didn't say that the black voters don't care about education. I said black voters are primarily motivated by their direct employment in the school system. And the perception that there aren't enough AA's in visible positions of power in the city. (the latter argument may be true)And there is a persistent culture of anti-school achievement in the black community. That is not a racist statement. It is a sad rality that a kid who strives to assimilate into high academic achievement is ostracized for "acting white". You have no idea how deep and wide this attitude still is within the black community, because, well, you're white.

[Anonymous]

You've begged the question of what Rhee has done to improve the education that DCPS provides to black students. Explain just how she was extricating them from the plantation chaos.

And you don't have to have a kid in DCPS to have a dog in this fight. Though if you did, Fenty would have been even more resoundingly defeated. Rhee's biggest fan base seems to be people who don't have kids in DCPS and whose perspective on DCPS is largely shaped by the Post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've begged the question of what Rhee has done to improve the education that DCPS provides to black students. Explain just how she was extricating them from the plantation chaos.

And you don't have to have a kid in DCPS to have a dog in this fight. Though if you did, Fenty would have been even more resoundingly defeated. Rhee's biggest fan base seems to be people who don't have kids in DCPS and whose perspective on DCPS is largely shaped by the Post.

This is so wrong. On so many levels. Stop playing devil's advocate. Literally.

[Anonymous]

19:11, I think you are pretty accurate. However, in many ways, Rhee's biggest fan base is the stroller set that got the gift of free three and four year old programs. For all these people who over extended themselves on a Capitol Hill rowhouse in 2007, she really has been a "warrior woman." (ThinK of the nanny and daycare costs saved! She answers my email! She loves me! She really, really loves me!)

It's a crack up though, to those of us who have had children in the system for more than a hot minute. Once little Emma and Jack get to a testing grade and they realize that the test is the curriculum, these same Rhee supporters will flee the city.

Data driven means your child will be tested until they drop, until they despise school and learning. Arts, PE, Language, music and anything else that inspires a love of learning will be shoved out the door for the DC-CAS.

And for those of us, both black and white, who really believe in public education or have no other choice, well, we'll be stuck once again. Waiting. Thanks Michelle. You're a rock star.

[Anonymous]

Okay, now you uber-DCUM moms are weak-in-the-knees? Rhee is a trembling fowl, against the big bad Black Man? Puh-LEEZE. She's just come out and insulted every one of us who might have voted for Gray, and therefore removed herself from interest in advancing reform of our kids' education. I find her outrageously insulting, divisive, ugly, and incapable of compromise. Excuse me, the hiding behind the big purse, in a dark corner --who is she appealing to?? This guy WON the election in our town. She's just resting up for Meet The Press. Why doesn't hte media ever bring on a counter-point, say a PARENT or LSRT Chair? Or Mary Lord of the Board of Ed? Rhee should be fired from her actions of the last couple of weeks alone, if not the sum of the egregious mistakes of three years now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:19:11, I think you are pretty accurate. However, in many ways, Rhee's biggest fan base is the stroller set that got the gift of free three and four year old programs. For all these people who over extended themselves on a Capitol Hill rowhouse in 2007, she really has been a "warrior woman." (ThinK of the nanny and daycare costs saved! She answers my email! She loves me! She really, really loves me!)

It's a crack up though, to those of us who have had children in the system for more than a hot minute. Once little Emma and Jack get to a testing grade and they realize that the test is the curriculum, these same Rhee supporters will flee the city.

Data driven means your child will be tested until they drop, until they despise school and learning. Arts, PE, Language, music and anything else that inspires a love of learning will be shoved out the door for the DC-CAS.

And for those of us, both black and white, who really believe in public education or have no other choice, well, we'll be stuck once again. Waiting. Thanks Michelle. You're a rock star.

You are so right. And, ironically, it's Gray who gave them the gift of Pre-K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, now you uber-DCUM moms are weak-in-the-knees? Rhee is a trembling fowl, against the big bad Black Man? Puh-LEEZE. She's just come out and insulted every one of us who might have voted for Gray, and therefore removed herself from interest in advancing reform of our kids' education. I find her outrageously insulting, divisive, ugly, and incapable of compromise. Excuse me, the hiding behind the big purse, in a dark corner --who is she appealing to?? This guy WON the election in our town. She's just resting up for Meet The Press. Why doesn't hte media ever bring on a counter-point, say a PARENT or LSRT Chair? Or Mary Lord of the Board of Ed? Rhee should be fired from her actions of the last couple of weeks alone, if not the sum of the egregious mistakes of three years now.

Whatever, teacher troll or other transparently cloaked special interest person.

[Anonymous]

This is why Rhee looked shaken after the meeting with Gray: She had just spent 90 minutes getting a very clear picture of how woefully inadequate Gray's grasp of education issues is and got a tutorial on his education plan that she probably regarded as nauseatingly naive.

I doubt HE did anything to her but reaffirm her worst fears...thus the strange body language. Like watching an airplane fall out of the sky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why Rhee looked shaken after the meeting with Gray: She had just spent 90 minutes getting a very clear picture of how woefully inadequate Gray's grasp of education issues is and got a tutorial on his education plan that she probably regarded as nauseatingly naive.

I doubt HE did anything to her but reaffirm her worst fears...thus the strange body language. Like watching an airplane fall out of the sky.

Thank you. Exactly.

[Anonymous]

It's simple: Rhee expected to be fired. Instead she found out she has to stick around until her contract ends. If she quits she gives up about $120K and her Woman Warrior credibility. Love him or hate him you can be sure that Gray has participated in thousands of interagency/neighborhood turf battles over the years and Rhee had little administrative/managerial experience before her appointment. This wasn't even a fair fight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's simple: Rhee expected to be fired. Instead she found out she has to stick around until her contract ends. If she quits she gives up about $120K and her Woman Warrior credibility. Love him or hate him you can be sure that Gray has participated in thousands of interagency/neighborhood turf battles over the years and Rhee had little administrative/managerial experience before her appointment. This wasn't even a fair fight.

*sigh*

How clueless are you? Gray was not going to fire Rhee in that meeting. Neither side can do anything at this point without losing tremendous political face. Gray is a lightweight jackass, but he does understand that much.

[Anonymous]

I see why you like Rhee. You mistake impatience and nastiness for intelligence and competence.

[Anonymous]

Just making an analysis based on facts....not actually a rhee fan. No mistake. I assume she is impatient, nasty AND intelligent and a whole host of other things....

[Anonymous]

22:55 Sorry but that doesn't fly. She'd have looked vindicated if that had been the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's simple: Rhee expected to be fired. Instead she found out she has to stick around until her contract ends. If she quits she gives up about $120K and her Woman Warrior credibility. Love him or hate him you can be sure that Gray has participated in thousands of interagency/neighborhood turf battles over the years and Rhee had little administrative/managerial experience before her appointment. This wasn't even a fair fight.

*sigh*

How clueless are you? Gray was not going to fire Rhee in that meeting. Neither side can do anything at this point without losing tremendous political face. Gray is a lightweight jackass, but he does understand that much.

Seen it up close and personal - Gray is no lightweight.