Activist (Rhee) targeting schools, backed by big bucks

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Activist targeting schools, backed by big bucks

By Stephanie Simon

Tue May 15, 2012 11:02pm EDT

(Reuters) - During her tumultuous three years at the head of the Washington D.C. public schools, Michelle Rhee set off a lot of fireworks.

She's still doing it - on a national stage.

Rhee has emerged as the leader of an unlikely coalition of politicians, philanthropists, financiers and entrepreneurs who believe the nation's $500 billion-a-year public education system needs a massive overhaul. She has vowed to raise $1 billion for her national advocacy group, StudentsFirst, and forever break the hold of teachers unions on education policy.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

But critics say Rhee risks destroying the very public schools she aims to save by forging alliances with political conservatives, evangelical groups and business interests that favor turning a large chunk of public education over to the private sector. She won't disclose her donors, but public records indicate that they include billionaire financiers and wealthy foundations.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/16/us-usa-education-rhee-idUSBRE84F03J20120516

[n2doc]

1. Evil Person n/t

[Blue_Tires]

2. Con artist...Taking her show on the road, Harold Hill style

Looking for any community where the school board is as green as the money

[EFerrari]

3. "Schools don't need more money, Rhee says; they need to be held accountable for how they spend it."

"She won't disclose her donors, but public records indicate that they include billionaire financiers and wealthy foundations."

I want to see her tax return.-

[Starry Messenger]

4. She's doing all this as a registered Dem-

"While Rhee is not required to disclose her spending, Reuters tracked more than $2 million in advocacy expenditures over the past nine months alone. Among the line items: $790,000 on advertising and lobbying in Connecticut; $6,700 to wine and dine lawmakers in Missouri; and $120,000 in donations to candidates and political caucuses in Tennessee.

In Michigan, StudentsFirst spent $955,000 last fall to push an education package that included evaluating teachers primarily by student test scores and restricting union bargaining rights (so issues like the new evaluation system would not be subject to negotiation). Rhee's top ally in that campaign was State Representative Paul Scott, a social and fiscal conservative seen as a rising star in the Republican party.

Furious, the teachers' union organized and funded a drive to recall Scott. Wealthy business and evangelical interests and StudentsFirst fought back in a failed bid to keep him in office. Rhee's group alone spent at least $210,000 on that campaign, state records show."

Is there a point where the Democratic Party can ask you to turn in your party affiliation? With "friends" like this...

[Blue_Tires]

5. Fred Phelps and Lyndon LaRouche were registered Dem for decades

what can you do??

[Starry Messenger]

6. Make her look bad publicly so mainstream Dems stop supporting her.

I want her name to be mud. I am so sick of friendly fire.

[HiPointDem]

10. +1

[frylock]

8. it's going to get a lot worse..

what with so-called "moderates" abandoning the republicans. welcome to your nu-democratic party, compliments of the big tent philosophy.

[Starry Messenger]

9. We need to keep up the grassroots shaming of these charlatans.

If they want to swim in our pool, they can't pee in it.

[Odin2005]

7. She's a cynical, oppertunistic predator.