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What They are Saying ...
Weekly Standard Blog —
... about Iraqi approval of a Status of Forces Agreement with the United States (Krauthammer).
... about Obama's worrying flirtation with the teachers' unions (Brooks).
... about the next president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank (the Wall Street Journal editorial page).
Your Abbreviated Pundit Round-up
Daily Kos —
... David Brooks: I'm tired of blaming the auto unions for our current economic woes. Instead, let's blame the teachers union for our educational woes. ...
The Education of Barack Obama
The Page by Mark Halperin —
... David Brooks on Obama's tough decision of picking a reformist education secretary. ...
BETTING ON SCHOOL REFORM
Political Animal —
... of his education policy transition group. So it's not unreasonable to predict that he'll go with an incrementalist as secretary. Yet why do I have this feeling that a reformer will get the nod? Wishful thinking perhaps. Also a sense that anyone who picks Rahm Emanuel for his chief of staff and Larry Summers for his economics adviser is not looking to play it safe policywise. But another piece of evidence is the similarity between this Washington Post editorial today and this David Brooks column . These reform guys sure know how to plant a story.— Paul Glastris ...
Brooks: don't know much about education
The Reaction —
... David Brooks has an uncanny way of taking a complex issue and boiling it down to an either/or situation. That may be what they teach in Punditry 101, but when he's writing about public education and who Barack Obama should choose for the Secretary of Education, it's a lesson that is a waste of time. ...
Weekend Readings
Ross Douthat —
Andy Ferguson on the attempt to reboot the National Museum of American History. The University Bookman's "regionalism" issue. Frum on George Packer. Brooks and TNR on Obama's education choices. Cato Unbound debates the roots of the economic crisis; Tyler Cowen chimes in. And of course, the entire December issue of the Atlantic.
Dan Brown: "You're Either With Us or You're With the Status Quo": Privatization Supporters Push Obama to Pick Their Kind of Education Secretary
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com —
Both David Brooks of the New York Times and the Washington Post editorial board ran eerily similar pieces on Friday about the two rival camps within the education reform movement.
Both essays categorize the two major education interests as existing at irreconcilable poles. The Post writes:
The different education factions of the party -- those pushing for radical restructuring and those more wedded to the status quo -- were each convinced during the campaign that Mr. Obama shared their particular viewpoints.
Brooks ...
Lobbying for Darling-Hammond
Ben Smith's Blog —
... There's also a lobbying campaign against her by those who, like David Brooks, see her as too close to the "establishment," which is to say the teachers unions and progressive educators. ...
Education as Business
The Moderate Voice —
... While many will resist the notion, I think it’s high time we started treating schools like businesses, like economic engines, because there are few such engines more productive in any given society than education — a belief that I hope but question if our new President shares. ...
Duncan’s the one
Joanne Jacobs —
... for their members; they have said they believe Duncan is willing to work with them.“Arne Duncan actually reaches out and tries to do things in a collaborative way,” Randi Weingarten, head of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of Teachers, told The Associated Press earlier this month. Duncan deliberately straddled the factions earlier this year when he signed competing manifestos from each side of the debate. In analyzing Obama’s options, David Brooks called Duncan the reformers’ best hope. He has the political skills necessary to build a coalition on behalf of No ...
Arne Duncan and Education
The Moderate Voice —
... résumé appeals to those identify themselves as reformers and tend to support tough accountability, charter schools, performance-pay plans and other steps that shake up the status quo. But his calls for increased funding and willingness to partner with teachers also wins the approval of unions and school officials who think the federal government imposes too many sanctions without offering enough support.
Net: There’s something for everyone in this pick. David Brooks, among others, should be pleased. John Burke certainly seems to be, as is ...
