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ABC's of public education

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    Rhee's philosophy of putting students first

  • Duration 4:40
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Transition -- in -- she's an education reformer known for her no nonsense approach during her time is the chancellor of DC schools.

And she's not done fighting at this point Michelle Rhee is now the head of grassroots group called students first she also has a brand new book out it's called radical and she joins us now in the studio.

-- -- You wrote this book we put students first.

For the average mom out there watching -- got -- she's got some kids in school and she's frustrated because she knows the system is broken.

That's right there are so many parents out there who are living life everyday and they don't know what to do because they're frustrated with their school system.

And their school with their -- kids' school experience and so I wanted to write radical to help those parents understand why the system is the way that is and what they should do about it.

There are a lot of things on your list that you were telling me in the break just about for instance in Los Angeles this seems like a no brainer.

Some sexual predator.

Was a teacher.

And yet what happened.

So they found all this evidence that this guy was a sexual predator they couldn't fire the teacher because of you know the various -- -- -- set her up.

And so -- at -- and legislator introduced a bill that would have made it easier for school districts to prior sexual predators.

And the bills not only didn't pass but didn't even make it out of committee and this is part of the problem is that.

People out there are not holding our public officials accountable and for making sure that law the pot laws and policies that we haven't plays are looking out for the best interest of.

Kids let's take a look at how our schools are teaching our kids we've got a map.

Full of red and now than a -- resume in the United States America all right we're gonna answer red states the red states are the failing students right -- So this is actually based on our fifty state report card looking at the policy environments.

Of all of all of all of our states and basically it it shows what we already know I mean we know that this country is fourteenth seventeenth and 25.

In the globe and reading science and math but we spend about the most money don't we -- absolutely spends we should be number one for the number one cash.

We absolutely -- and yet we're not getting the return on investment that we need for our kids and so what are we have to do is and what we're trying to -- -- first.

Is really change those laws and policies look and one of the things you say is we need highly effective teachers they've got plenty of knowledge but I would imagine.

Which you sit down in the classroom you got to know exactly how to.

To get it out of your head and into theirs.

That's right of that event basis.

Very clear that the most important factor in school that impact student achievement levels is the quality of the teacher in front of the kids every day as new parents we know that this is.

The case and so we have to make sure that every single child is in the classroom.

And you know with with highly.

Sure everything that policy -- highly effective parent you've got to empower the parents that's right.

Then the second thing that we advocate is making sure that parents have information and data.

About the quality of the schools with their kids are in and that they also have choices so that no family ever feels like they're trapped in a.

Well look in New York I mean they've they've been talking about school.

You know teacher.

Ratings especially but the teacher's union won't rule out everybody wants to know whether or not that that teacher who's in for your kids third grader.

In the years past is a good teacher and yet the teachers union has made it impossible to release that information.

And it's and it's crazy because right in in New York City we we need to decide that that the city had to forgo 300 million dollars in state and federal aid.

Simply because the teachers union would not agree to an evaluation why don't.

They bring this up for vote if you -- you know it if -- the majority of Americans they think you know we should know whether or not a teacher is effective.

You know if you've got the vast majority vs the teacher's union.

That's right this -- these are common sense reforms that we're talking about every one knows that in you and your job you have to be evaluated.

You have to be evaluated in a fair and transparent way.

But we still have to be able to see whether you're adding value.

In your job and so this is really a very very obvious thing -- that that the teachers union and the city need to come together on.

And the teachers union needs to understand the public has the right to ensure that every child is not quite effective teacher absolutely and we -- Great teachers it's that it's the couple of bad apples that give you know the vast majority of teachers in this country are heroes they are doing extraordinary things for kids.

And those teachers should be recognized and rewarded -- -- -- -- I think it should be paid a whole lot more money in this that you traded to a DC and the teachers union election after I check out her book -- called radical machinery thank you very much thank.

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