I couldn't bring myself to read about Rhee in today's Post magazine...

[Anonymous]

I just didn't have it in me to read another article on her; me, whose whole life is education in DC - in so many different ways. Anyone else able to wade through?

[Anonymous]

I read it. Interesting bit about Rhee wanting to attract more middle class families.

[Anonymous]

I read it. I did not learn one new thing. I thought the writer spent too much time on the TIME cover.

[Anonymous]

I did not read the article. She is trying to attract more middle class families to attend which schools. Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a link? Or better yet, want to post the text of the article (and spare me having to go through the WaPo's online registration). It's free anyway...

[Anonymous]

In Search of The Real Michelle Rhee
Arrogant or dynamic? Harsh or honest? Inside the mind of D.C.'s controversial schools chief

By Marc Fisher
Sunday, September 27, 2009

W hen Michelle Rhee was a teenager -- long before anyone imagined she would ever spend her career trying to turn America's inner-city public schools into something more like the elite private school she attended back in Ohio -- she was a stellar student, a good field hockey player and a kind, caring friend. But she already had the mouth for which she has become infamous. She said what was on her mind, even if it stung. Finally, one day, her mother had just had it with her daughter's blunt, even brusque, manner. Inza Rhee said to Michelle, "What is wrong with you? You just don't care what people think of you!"


[ Article text removed due to copyright laws ]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092303309_pf.html

[Anonymous]

Excerpt from the Post article, with weblink on the previous post in this thread:

Rhee does things her way. She picks and chooses which news reporters she will talk to, putting The Washington Post's beat reporter, Bill Turque, on ice for months even as she granted interviews to national TV and print journalists whom she knew would portray her as a leading school reformer. Rhee allowed me to follow her around to many of her meetings, but placed her personal life off-limits

WHAT IS UP WITH THE WASHINGTON POST?

I don't get a paper that gives a photo shot coverage on the magazine section to a political appointee who refuses to be interviewed by their education reporter? ????

The paper has seriously reduced credibility by letting Rhee dictate her terms, and allowing her to speak with an alternate reporter that she picks.

I'm not a journalist, but this just seems unbelievable to me. The Post seems to have integrated its editorial and reporting functions. Both pro-Fenty, pro-Rhee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Excerpt from the Post article, with weblink on the previous post in this thread:

Rhee does things her way. She picks and chooses which news reporters she will talk to, putting The Washington Post's beat reporter, Bill Turque, on ice for months even as she granted interviews to national TV and print journalists whom she knew would portray her as a leading school reformer. Rhee allowed me to follow her around to many of her meetings, but placed her personal life off-limits

WHAT IS UP WITH THE WASHINGTON POST?

I don't get a paper that gives a photo shot coverage on the magazine section to a political appointee who refuses to be interviewed by their education reporter? ????

The paper has seriously reduced credibility by letting Rhee dictate her terms, and allowing her to speak with an alternate reporter that she picks.

I'm not a journalist, but this just seems unbelievable to me. The Post seems to have integrated its editorial and reporting functions. Both pro-Fenty, pro-Rhee

Have you been following the political corruption stories about the Washington Post? The WaPoHo will sell itself out to ANYONE. The most important story about the WaPo in recent months is exactly how much it is willing to prostitute what is left of its reputation. But between now and when it collapses you've got a bunch of bitter whores with axes to grind and a desperate need for attention - any attention.

[Anonymous]

Rhee squints and cocks her head at her aide, who sits across from the chancellor at one of her regular SchoolStat meetings, where top managers update the boss on their progress. The aide is reporting the fact that white parents who are eager to send their kids to a nearby D.C. elementary school -- a school where one-quarter of the children are white -- are demonstrating zero interest in an equally convenient school whose population is only 7 percent white.

"Is it because there are not white kids in the other classrooms?" Rhee asks.

"Yes," the aide replies.

"Wow."

Interesting that Rhee put her own children in a school far more than 7% white. I wondering what she is 'wowing' at?

[Anonymous]

Can really compare the two. Doesn't Rhee's ex-husband live within Oyster's boundaries? Is there a school nearby that has a significant number of black/Latino students?

The wow is that fact that white parents would not choose the school that is equally convenient and that is 93% black/Latino. However, I don't think the story says whether or not the schools are equal academically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rhee squints and cocks her head at her aide, who sits across from the chancellor at one of her regular SchoolStat meetings, where top managers update the boss on their progress. The aide is reporting the fact that white parents who are eager to send their kids to a nearby D.C. elementary school -- a school where one-quarter of the children are white -- are demonstrating zero interest in an equally convenient school whose population is only 7 percent white.

"Is it because there are not white kids in the other classrooms?" Rhee asks.

"Yes," the aide replies.

"Wow."

Interesting that Rhee put her own children in a school far more than 7% white. I wondering what she is 'wowing' at?

To me it seemed as if she was wowing at another example of the work that needed to be done within the system overall. But I don't hate Rhee so I probably don't see things the same way as all the folks on here that do.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. To me it seems like she was 'wowing' at a conclusion reached by a group of people, that she herself had reached long ago!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. To me it seems like she was 'wowing' at a conclusion reached by a group of people, that she herself had reached long ago!

I agree. There's a huge difference of being a racial minority of 25% and in one of 7%. 7% means the child might be the only one of his/her ethnic background in the whole class - that could be a pretty lonely experience on some level. Whereas 25%? That looks more like diversity for everyone. Win-win. Is her ability to imagine herself in another parent's (person's) shoes really so broken?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can really compare the two. Doesn't Rhee's ex-husband live within Oyster's boundaries? Is there a school nearby that has a significant number of black/Latino students?

The wow is that fact that white parents would not choose the school that is equally convenient and that is 93% black/Latino. However, I don't think the story says whether or not the schools are equal academically.

Yes and Yes to the first.

Marie Reed elementary. One block away from Dupont campus. 90 percent free and reduced lunch. 70 percent Hispanic, 20 % black. She would not have to look far.

To the second, my parents chose a school where I was the only white, and slightly more affluent, child, in DC. I cried every day after school/not due to the other children's maliciousness or anything like that -- but to the stress of completely not getting the cultural script that everyone else seemed to be reading from. It's stressful. I am not sure why she would be surprised on a social or academic level. I'm not sure why anyone would be. There are not enough whites or affluents of any color or educated but not affluent of any color in public / charter to go around in this city to create the diversity nirvana where children are enlightened (but not emotionally stressed) that everyone seeks. Let's just admit it. I don't mind if her goal is to attract more middle class whites (I would throw in OR affluent any color or educated but not affluent of any color--BUT she is going to have to work a bit harder tho--my educated family of many colors left for charter) -- and if she is not leading the bandwagon to diversify schools (ESPECIALLY when it comes to affluence) I am not sure why she would be surprised by the choices of others. She just makes me feel ick all over. I'm a former DCPS teacher; not only did I get out, and my child out, all the 'good' teachers I am still in contact with are packing their little teacher bags and shipping out. I have hope for DCPS East and West of the park--but that will come through true responsiveness to the on the ground needs of each school/situation. She currently makes teaching/learning impossible. The good schools are 'good' in spite of her. I wish them all the luck in the world holding out the siege in their little fortresses.

[Anonymous]

What I find the most interesting is the posters here being able to imagine, and not want to face, the challenges of being one the only whites in a class, but the same thoughtfulness isn't extended to AA parents that face the same challenge. I've seen several threads where people basically told them to get over it or diversity is more than just a skin color. Very interesting indeed.