Right op-ed, wrong subject
Kudos to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings for taking to the pages of the Washington Post to defend DC’s endangered school voucher program. But I can’t help wondering, yet again, what’s up at 400 Maryland Avenue. I’ve never viewed Spellings as a strong supporter of school choice, though she continues to fight hard to protect this $13-million-a-year program. (Maybe it’s time I admit that she’s a voucher advocate, after all.) But what’s beyond doubt is that she’s a believer in scientifically-based reading programs (once claiming “phonics” as her religion). And yet, when it comes to the impending death of her beloved billion-dollar-a-year Reading First program, all she does is send letters and issue statements.
Madame Secretary and associates: may I suggest that the next time you place a Post op-ed, you make it about Reading First?
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
July 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Ugh. Just because Reading First is the darling of the Fordham Institute, do you have to whine about school choice getting good press?
Spellings has her priorities right - Reading First shouldn’t be considered more important, just because it is more expensive. Rather, school choice should be considered more important because it is more effective.
“Scientifically-based” studies show that school choice benefits all students - both recipients and those staying in public schools. Reading First has not been shown to be effective at all. And the potential benefits of Reading First won’t save a child from a failing or unsafe school (and there are plenty of those in DC) or improve improve current schools one iota.