Democrats debate U.S. education reform

by Colin Chazen

2-10-09

A teacher's union organizer and an education reform lobbyist sparred last night in a wide-ranging discussion about the future of the American education system. The speakers, both Democrats, differed primarily over whether reforms should focus on improving the current system or expanding the use of charter schools.

Joe Williams, executive director of Democrats for Education Reform, advocated greater flexibility and spoke against powerful interest groups that oppose major changes.

"There was a notion if you supported anything other than the status quo, than investing in the system as it is, you couldn't be a Democrat," Williams said. "The teachers unions are telling us not to have these conversations."

Patrick Crowley, assistant executive director of the Rhode Island National Education Association, argued that teachers are not the enemies and should not be blamed for systematic problems.

"It's not summers off and getting out at two o'clock," Crowley said. "The enemy is a lot of the policies that the people in power have always used."

The discussion, which was sponsored by the Department of Education, the Brown Democrats and Students for Education Reform, came ahead of a pending $800-billion federal stimulus package that will allocate billions of dollars to education projects across the country. Both speakers said they are hopeful that President Obama will bring positive change to the education system, but described a litany of contradicting views and opinions on what types of reforms are needed and which will be successful.

"Pick a study and I'll show one that says the opposite," Crowley said...

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