All Posts Tagged: 'Conservatives'


That Settles That

March 15th, 2007 | Category: Accountability

Yesterday we had a long, multi-blog debate about the idea, widespread among educators, that NCLB is part of a conservative conspiracy to destroy public education. Today, the Washington Post went above the fold with an article titled “Dozens in GOP Turn Against Bush’s Prized ‘No Child’ Act,” wherein conservative NCLB opponent Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) says [...]

The Myth of Conservative Love for NCLB

March 14th, 2007 | Category: Accountability

Kevin and Matt and Andy have done a good job explaining why claims that NCLB is a secret plot to privatize public educaiton reflect paranoia more than reality. I want to tackle one piece of the argument neither has adressed yet: The perception that hardcore conservatives and the religious right support NCLB. This is wrong. [...]

The Phantom Pro-NCLB Anti-Public Education Conspiracy

March 14th, 2007 | Category: Accountability

Following up on the post below about the notion that NCLB is just a stalking horse for a broader conspiracy against public education.
Over the last six years, the Bush administration has supported a whole range of radical and/or deeply conservative policies, and in many cases they’ve managed to spin these ideas as sensible and/or moderate. [...]

Teachers Unions: Good, Bad, or???

August 14th, 2006 | Category: Teacher Quality

Matt Yglesias says teachers unions get a bad rap. To a degree, I agree with him. Teachers unions have been a force for good in education policy in many ways, particularly in defending public education and maintaining or increasing funding for it. And, the availability (and abuse) of teachers unions as a scapegoat does allow [...]

65 Cent = Bad But Effective Policy 101

March 4th, 2006 | Category: Accountability

Eduwonk recently wrote about the backlash of conservative criticism directed toward the increasingly popular 65-cent solution. It’s a good piece, and I say that not just because Eduwonk links to an op-ed I wrote and also happens to sign my paycheck.
In a nutshell, the 65-cent solution proposes to require every school district in the nation [...]