Washington Post Opinion on Henderson-smells like desperation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Post editorial page has lost all credibility on education issues. I don't even look anymore it's so reliably ridiculous. They have such a strong ideological bent -- and I agree completely with Jeff that's it's entirely proper to raise the issue of an associated financial interest -- that the op-eds continually contort/distort the facts as needed to keep to the story line.

Hello, the Post editorial page has lost all credibility on everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least Kaya is in it for the long-haul, knows the system and doesn't seem particularly interested in highlighting herself and her own career at the expense of the kids.

Whoever posted this obviously missed her council testimony in which she threatened to leave saying there were many other, higher paying jobs just waiting out there for her.

And the whole floating of the DeBlasio interest (if there ever were any) only to circle back to "I love this job and I want to stay in DC"....that was just blowing smoke in an election year.

Her overseas travel seems be curtailed during the election cycle, but you have to presume she'll go back to annual European and Asian junkets once Gray is re-elected. I'd venture tha that those trips have nothing to do with DC and everything to do with raising her profile (for her next job).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least Kaya is in it for the long-haul, knows the system and doesn't seem particularly interested in highlighting herself and her own career at the expense of the kids.

Whoever posted this obviously missed her council testimony in which she threatened to leave saying there were many other, higher paying jobs just waiting out there for her.

And the whole floating of the DeBlasio interest (if there ever were any) only to circle back to "I love this job and I want to stay in DC"....that was just blowing smoke in an election year.

Her overseas travel seems be curtailed during the election cycle, but you have to presume she'll go back to annual European and Asian junkets once Gray is re-elected. I'd venture tha that those trips have nothing to do with DC and everything to do with raising her profile (for her next job).

PP, your problem is that you haven't been here long enough to see how bad it could actually get. The General? Please. Kaya is OK. She's not Moses, not Jesus of Nazareth, but she's not the Wizard either.

I will vote for Bowser as long as she states that she would keep Kaya. If not, I'll vote for Gray, something I never ever thought I would do. I would rather have stability, something to work with, than to upset all the apple carts.

[Anonymous]

I also think it's important for DCPS to have stability. Kaya Henderson may not be everything that everyone wants - who is - but she's not the devil incarnate as people on this board are making her out to be.

I also disagree with this "guilt by association" standard that seems to be applied here. That is, if you're not someone who people like (Graham, Post etc) and you advocate keeping Henderson around, that that automatically disqualifies Henderson. It's a childish attitude.

Frankly, if I'm going to take that attitude, I'll apply it to the WTU. Ran amok in DCPS for decades and now finally has met some pushback. Perhaps I'll just take anyone who's willing to stay that course with WTU - I think that means Henderson.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I also think it's important for DCPS to have stability. Kaya Henderson may not be everything that everyone wants - who is - but she's not the devil incarnate as people on this board are making her out to be.

I also disagree with this "guilt by association" standard that seems to be applied here. That is, if you're not someone who people like (Graham, Post etc) and you advocate keeping Henderson around, that that automatically disqualifies Henderson. It's a childish attitude.

Frankly, if I'm going to take that attitude, I'll apply it to the WTU. Ran amok in DCPS for decades and now finally has met some pushback. Perhaps I'll just take anyone who's willing to stay that course with WTU - I think that means Henderson.

I don't know if the bolded part above was directed at me, but I didn't state my opinion of Henderson. I simply think that Graham's financial interest in for-profit education should be disclosed and considered when evaluating his opinions about DCPS. I could write an essay explaining why I think the connection between DCPS and the for-profit education sector needs critical examination, but this thread isn't the place.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think it's important for DCPS to have stability. Kaya Henderson may not be everything that everyone wants - who is - but she's not the devil incarnate as people on this board are making her out to be.

I also disagree with this "guilt by association" standard that seems to be applied here. That is, if you're not someone who people like (Graham, Post etc) and you advocate keeping Henderson around, that that automatically disqualifies Henderson. It's a childish attitude.

Frankly, if I'm going to take that attitude, I'll apply it to the WTU. Ran amok in DCPS for decades and now finally has met some pushback. Perhaps I'll just take anyone who's willing to stay that course with WTU - I think that means Henderson.

I don't know if the bolded part above was directed at me, but I didn't state my opinion of Henderson. I simply think that Graham's financial interest in for-profit education should be disclosed and considered when evaluating his opinions about DCPS. I could write an essay explaining why I think the connection between DCPS and the for-profit education sector needs critical examination, but this thread isn't the place.

Don't play all high-and-mighty. You (I think it was you) stated that fairness was not a priority of yours when it came to Don Graham.

[Anonymous]

"The school system provides a rich trove of patronage and power when it isn’t run by a strong leader."

Probably the most true and worthwhile point of Graham's piece. And that is why I liked part of what Rhee did - I don't buy in to the teacher-evaluation-by-test-scores methodology, but at least Rhee had the cahones to clean house and push back against the union. Henderson lacks strength, vision, and sensibility, and truly is a second-class chancellor.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Don't play all high-and-mighty. You (I think it was you) stated that fairness was not a priority of yours when it came to Don Graham.

That's right. But fairness is a priority when it comes to Kaya Henderson.

[Anonymous]

I think you meant cojones.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also think it's important for DCPS to have stability. Kaya Henderson may not be everything that everyone wants - who is - but she's not the devil incarnate as people on this board are making her out to be.

I also disagree with this "guilt by association" standard that seems to be applied here. That is, if you're not someone who people like (Graham, Post etc) and you advocate keeping Henderson around, that that automatically disqualifies Henderson. It's a childish attitude.

Frankly, if I'm going to take that attitude, I'll apply it to the WTU. Ran amok in DCPS for decades and now finally has met some pushback. Perhaps I'll just take anyone who's willing to stay that course with WTU - I think that means Henderson.

I don't know if the bolded part above was directed at me, but I didn't state my opinion of Henderson. I simply think that Graham's financial interest in for-profit education should be disclosed and considered when evaluating his opinions about DCPS. I could write an essay explaining why I think the connection between DCPS and the for-profit education sector needs critical examination, but this thread isn't the place.

I would LOVE to read that. Especially any connection with using DCPS as a pipeline for Kaplan for-profit "colleges".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not done all my research yet, but it is kind of funny that his slam on Catania is that he is "micromanaging." That is not a bad thing when compared to the stupidity of Wall Street types who think they can fix education with "innovation" and "tech" and "disruption" - as if an iPad is a magic wand or something. I would take a micromanaging mayor with positive relationships with all stakeholders over a for-profit bozo any day of the week.

I believe we are not supposed to write this on DCUM anymore but...

this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rather have Kaya Henderson than some carpet-bagger from another city out to make a name for him/herself, a la Rhee, who will stay for 2.3 years, destroy schools and programs already in place, and then move on to the nonprofit/lecture circuit to enrich him/herself. At least Kaya is in it for the long-haul, knows the system and doesn't seem particularly interested in highlighting herself and her own career at the expense of the kids.

Kaya is on it for the long haul- because what the hell else is she going to do? What other district turns over the reigns of a school district to someone who can push 'reform ' and then make up results ?

[Anonymous]

Kaya is on it for the long haul- because what the hell else is she going to do? What other district turns over the reigns of a school district to someone who can push 'reform ' and then make up results ?

+1000!!