Another outsider who thinks Controlled-choice zones are what DC needs

[Anonymous]

Haha. Like Tommy Wells is going anywhere as mayor, especially if he agrees with his supporter Ken Archer.

Voting against Gray is for the actual election, not for the primary election. If Henderson, Smith and the rest start to put wind in the sails of this controlled choice idea at the elementary levels people will vote for Catania to stop it.

[Anonymous]

Has Catania spoken up about controlled choice yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haha. Like Tommy Wells is going anywhere as mayor, especially if he agrees with his supporter Ken Archer.

Voting against Gray is for the actual election, not for the primary election. If Henderson, Smith and the rest start to put wind in the sails of this controlled choice idea at the elementary levels people will vote for Catania to stop it.

Exactly. Voting for Gray in the primary will give voters a lot more control over what is actually adopted when the DME makes her preliminary decisions in May (final decisions in Sept)...at least I think I have that timeline right.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:Just to clear up a couple of misconceptions posted above. First, Ken Archer is not really an "outsider" as the thread topic would have it. He lives in DC and has been active on education issues for some time. I don't always agree with him, but I respect his knowledge of the topic. While he doesn't currently have a child enrolled in DCPS, that is only because his child is too young. I believe that will change next year.

Also, contrary to the post that says controlled choice plans are not being proposed for Wards 3 and 8, Archer's proposal does exactly that. It's notable that given where he lives, strict neighborhood school boundaries would be personally advantageous to him. So, the fact that he proposes controlled-choice even for his own neighborhood shows a certain willingness to make his own sacrifice.

Doesn't Archer live in Georgetown? If so, strict boundaries would mean his kids go to Hardy. More lax boundaries might mean his kids go to Deal.

For the foreseeable future, his personal concern would be elementary schools.

+1000. Archer has the luxury of time on his side if his son is not yet three. Hardy is going to transform significantly over the next seven years and who know how many charters will be up and running by then. What would his two-mile controlled choice lineup look like right now? Hyde-Addison, Ross, Key, FrancesStevens, Oyster? Compare those with second and third tier Hill schools. Gimme a break.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A very good reason to vote against Vincent Gray. One city, my arse.

Ken Archer, the author of the article under discussion, is a Tommy Wells supporter. He would love for you to vote against Gray.

Shocker. GGW stands for Greater Greater Wells. All your bike lane and streetcar blogging needs fulfilled.

[Anonymous]

I'm not voting for Wells, can't see him winning anyway, and think Ken Archer is a misguided pompous ass. However, in fairness, Tommy Wells talks a lot about the importance of neighborhood schools. so it would be surprising for him to come out in favor of lottery for all or controlled choice.

Somebody should really ask him and all the other candidates at the next debate, and press for clear answer.

[Anonymous]

Wells' motto: I talk a lot. Too bad he could never walk the walk.

[Anonymous]

If you like Comrade DiBlasio in NYC, you will love Tommy Wells.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it delicious that a parent living in the heart of Georgetown craves diversity for his 4 year old son when his IB school, Hyde-Addiosn, is 36 percent AA, 11 percent Asian, 23 percent FARMs and 63 percent OOB. His other priority? Relocating Ellimgton to be replaced with a new Western High School for ward 2 and 3. Good luck with that!

[Anonymous]

The best idea I've heard in a while is to allow independents into the primary. It's unbelievable how many redistributionist nutbags get elected here. If it weren't for the presence of federal government money and employment, this place would look like Escape From New York.

[Anonymous]

Greater Greater Education is a joke and Natalie Wexler is an even bigger joke.

[Anonymous]

The folks at GGW/GGE may know a lot about bike lanes, hipster haunts and wine bars, but they "don't know nuthin' about birthin' babies "-- or about DC public schools.

[Anonymous]

Well .c. .Archer has a BA in Political Philosophy from Tufts, a MA in Philosophy from CUA and no child in DCPS. That certainly qualifies him to opine about improving educational performance and diversity.