Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Schools Matter: Rhee Finds Respect Among Governors Without Any

Schools Matter: Rhee Finds Respect Among Governors Without Any

Rhee Finds Respect Among Governors Without Any

By Suzy Khimm for the Washington City Paper:
For those who viewed Michelle Rhee as an anti-union bully, the past few months have offered lots of chances to say “toldya so.” Soon after resigning as the D.C. Public Schools chancellor in October, Rhee began appearing with Republican governors who were busily making war on public-sector unions. But if longtime Rhee critics felt vindicated, another group has been less sanguine: left-leaning education reformers who worry that her moves could help tie education reform to a larger conservative agenda to crush organized labor.

Since the launch of Rhee’s advocacy organization, StudentsFirst, the optics certainly haven’t been favorable for her fellow Democratic reformers. In October, pugilistic New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie asked her to become his