These are my notes taken this morning while listening to a panel discussion on proposed education reforms on Meet The Press with David Gregory. The panel included Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Fmr. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton. They have been touring the country in an bipartisanship effort to rally support for Obama’s Race to the Top Fund.
Notes –
48 states involved
The high goal is to close the achievement gap.
In Washington, only 9% of D.C.students eventually graduate from college.
There are 1.2 million dropouts a year nationally.
Show us reform and then we’ll give you money is The Race to the Top Fund attitude objective.
Arne Duncan is trying to move the DOE to being an engine of innovation.
Education is the #1 civil right of the 21st century – Gingrich
Schools at the bottom are perpetuating poverty and social failure – Duncan
One student said, “We don’t fight because it’s not tolerated.”(Competent adults are essential in creating order, boundaries and expectations)
Mastery Charter School is a school that turned around because of leadership, expectation and competent, caring teachers.
New racism is low expectations – Sharpton
What makes great education is adults. We all need to move outside our comfort zone. – Duncan
There’s nothing humane about a school that destroys children. Gingrich
We need parent involvement. Parent’s hold schools responsible. Sharpton
When a system is broken for (teachers), it does not work for children. Duncan
What is the knowledge most worth having in the 21st century? Gregory asks Gingrich who answers that it is knowledge of self and the ability to learn what you want to learn.
(Thought – Does the structure and discipline needed in schools today conflict with SEL?)
Parents have to say we have expectations of you. Parents have to be full and equal partners with teachers. Duncan
The rest of the community must be the parent (in communities where good parenting is absent). Sharpton
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