Rhee’s calls for reform

The Spectator’s Schools Revolution conference has just ended with an interesting, and ominous Question and Answer with the former Chancellor of Washington DC’s schools, Michelle Rhee. 

Rhee is an enemy of teaching unions, even those over here (as you can see in the video above). As Chancellor, Rhee threw out the old system of rewarding teachers based on their seniority — as far as she was concerned they should be based on their quality. When she first became chancellor in 2007, 92 per cent of students in Washington DC were failing to meet their expected grade, yet 98 per cent of teachers were told they were doing an excellent job. Rhee announced that she was going to grade teachers based on their pupil’s progress. Those who failed to deliver for their pupils quickly found themselves out of work. At the same time, Rhee rewarded those who delivered by paying the best teachers more money (up to twice the normal pay).