Meaningful accountability but only for the affluent

[Anonymous]

“The affluent also enjoy meaningful accountability from the district. Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute has noted a twisted irony: After DCPS leaders systematically undermined high school diplomas for thousands of underserved students, a few folks were put on leave. But when one student cut the line to attend a high-performing high school serving students from advantaged backgrounds, the deputy mayor and chancellor were forced to resign.”

https://www.the74million.org/article/eden-d-c-public-schools-deserves-an-f-for-bogus-reforms-faked-successes-and-disastrous-failures/?utm_source=The+74+Million+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3a1faaaf0b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_077b986842-3a1faaaf0b-176115937

[Anonymous]

Of course it's not that simple.

The problem with the Chancellor's action is that...

(1) It underscored the problem of the system failures when even he wouldn't deign to send his child to a typical DC school. If he knows how bad the system is, why isn't he doing something about it?!
(2) He showed arrogance and hypocrasy by flaunting the rule that he instituted not long before. Does he really think everyone else deserves the same quality as his own family, or is lame supposed to be good enough for the regular folk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
“The affluent also enjoy meaningful accountability from the district. Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute has noted a twisted irony: After DCPS leaders systematically undermined high school diplomas for thousands of underserved students, a few folks were put on leave. But when one student cut the line to attend a high-performing high school serving students from advantaged backgrounds, the deputy mayor and chancellor were forced to resign.”

https://www.the74million.org/article/eden-d-c-public-schools-deserves-an-f-for-bogus-reforms-faked-successes-and-disastrous-failures/?utm_source=The+74+Million+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3a1faaaf0b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_077b986842-3a1faaaf0b-176115937

Smart piece, thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Since when are Ellington students "advantaged"?

[Anonymous]

The lottery thing was different because it showed that the Chancellor has poor judgment. It was dumb of him to think he could get away with that. Nobody thinks the Ballou thing reflects specifically on the Chancellor's judgment and integrity as an individual. It's a different type of problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when are Ellington students "advantaged"?

Good question. I can’t find their at-risk numbers but free and reduced lunch is 36%. That’s considered fairly low (for DC).

[Anonymous]

the difference was that because the guy was new, things that he didn't do directly weren't being attributed to him. since the school transfer of his daughter couldn't be pinned on henderson, it finally stuck. there are other differences too, but let's not get all revisionist. people were acting like he was too new, and now that he's "former" chancellor, people are forgetting that already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lottery thing was different because it showed that the Chancellor has poor judgment. It was dumb of him to think he could get away with that. Nobody thinks the Ballou thing reflects specifically on the Chancellor's judgment and integrity as an individual. It's a different type of problem.

+1

[Anonymous]

It also revealed his lack of support on the Council. Nobody cared if he stayed or went. I agree that the way DCPS treats low-income families is shameful, but these are different types of situations.

[Anonymous]

Circumventing the lottery hurts all parents

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the article because it quickly summarizes the quick succession of scandals. But equating to the Ballou/graduation scandal to the undoing of Wilson for pulling strings for his daughter just doesn't hold water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Circumventing the lottery hurts all parents

And it hurts the affluent parents in bound for that school the least, so the whole premise of that piece is off.

[Anonymous]

In general, affluent families don't depend on the lottery. Working class families do. Skipping the line in the lottery is an affront to everyone who depends on the lottery, which is why it was a political hot button. So I disagree with the premise of the story.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps it’s meaningful accountability when you can point to a single person/wrong-doer (Wilson, Niles) but not when the wrongdoing is embedded in the system (graduation rates, grades, attendance). Easier to indict a person rather than a system. Easier to replace too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps it’s meaningful accountability when you can point to a single person/wrong-doer (Wilson, Niles) but not when the wrongdoing is embedded in the system (graduation rates, grades, attendance). Easier to indict a person rather than a system. Easier to replace too.

Antwan proved himself to be a tone-deaf doofus with no support on the Council. There is little hope of meaningful change with someone like that in charge. We will have to do a new search and hopefully get someone better.