Heavy Stuff for a Friday

I read today about a chapter from former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige's new book. In it, he tackles head on the notion that teachers' unions, especially the NEA are actually hindering forces when it comes to improving education, and ironically, the lives and careers of teachers. Granted this is the same man who called the NEA a "terrorist organization."

Nonetheless, I actually appreciate his comments, even if I don't agree with them. Frankly, I don't think we have enough transparency about the most uncomfortable issues facing education. Some of the conversations we're going to need to have about the transformation of public education are going to have to be brutal, painful, and very public. Polite conversations about the status quo or overly-politicized speeches about "failing schools" aren't going to cause the sea change that is going to need to happen.

But if we as educators are willing to throw everything on the table and have those uncomfortable conversations, how quickly will agendas shift? The entirety of debate about education in our country cannot happen until the gloves come off. I listen with a close ear to the new batch of candidates for president frame their conversations about education issues. I assume you do too. I'll look forward to tracking what the conversation actually becomes. I for one hope it's a drag out, knock down, but utterly productive one.