Education Reformer Michelle Rhee Takes Hits For Bold Action

Take a look at town hall debate after viewing the education documentary film "Waiting For Superman" as NBC kicks off their reports on education in America.

From Denny: Washington, D. C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee debates with obstructionist teachers union leader Randi Weingarten. Weingarten is the typical Save My Job politician critical of the necessary reform Rhee has successfully enacted to improve a failing school system. You have to let go teachers with bad attitudes who actually believe their kids are incapable of learning. How can children learn in such an atmosphere when they know their teachers don't give them a chance to show what they can do?

And "dumbing down" the curriculum is not the answer as it does the kids a serious disservice for a life time. Rather teachers must learn to teach to the students as they learn. Great strides have been made in just this area as science has learned how the brain learns. Innovative teachers across this country have implemented these styles of learning into their classrooms with excellent results. Kids enjoy learning more and learn better.

These video clips are from a one-hour town hall meeting discussion after the newly released documentary film, "Waiting For Superman," was screened to the audience.


Part 1 of the Town Hall Meeting

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Part 2 of the Town Hall Meeting - The focus for this panel is disadvantaged students and how education reformers and teachers unions can work together to level the playing field to help these students.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Part 3 of the Town Hall Meeting - Singer John Legend talks about how he believes that education is a civil rights issue.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Part 4 of the Town Hall Meeting - Harlem Village Academies charter schools Deborah Kenny talks about how accountability gives teachers power:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Part 5 of the Town Hall Meeting:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

*** Photo by Robb North @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Best Spiritual Posts
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor

American Education Sec. Arne Duncan Talks Reform in Education

From Denny: This is change in an area where President Obama is delivering, if only one school at a time. Finally, with the Democrats in charge there is renewed urgency to get serious about tackling how to fix our public schools with more than just throwing money at the problem.

In April of this year, because of state budget shortfalls, there was estimated as many as 300,000 teachers would be laid off from their jobs. Nothing is more important than preparing the younger generation to be the leaders of tomorrow. How can they do that with over crowded classrooms and only a handful of teachers?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sec. Duncan talks about "the quiet revolution" going on around the country in various individual schools and school districts to shake up the status quo that clearly is not working for this generation of students. Teachers must learn how to teach to the students they have, be equipped with the knowledge and resources so they can actually do their job well. Too many times it is the teacher unions that get in the way of effective flexible teaching.

Often it is the administrators who resist changing the status quo the most, frustrating the teachers, the parents and the students. America is a country where as many as 68 percent of the 8th graders cannot read on their grade level. We have elevated high school drop out rates. The status quo is not working and is just no longer acceptable. It's time for change and the Obama administration has begun the arduous task of addressing it. So has NBC with their Education Nation stories reporting all this week on the state of our public school education system and ways to solve the problems beyond funding issues.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets - news, politics
The Soul Calendar - science, astronomy, psychology
Visual Insights - photos, art, music
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations - spiritual quotes, philosophy
Best Spiritual Posts
Poems From A Spiritual Heart - poetry
The Healing Waters - health news
Dennys People Watching - people in the news
Dennys Food and Recipes
Dennys Funny Quotes - humor