Bush could not have gotten his education agenda...Democrats would have opposed him.

[madfloridian]

The Republicans could never have gotten this privatization of education completed because the Democrats would have fought them on it.

It is now being accomplished under the Obama administration. The disrespect for public school teachers is growing more quickly in that environment.

Maybe it was always meant to be this way. That the Democrats would complete the dream of Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich to have free market schools.

Diane Ravitch was assistant Superintendent of Education under George W. Bush. She has since spoken out in great opposition to all that these plans entailed. Her words from 2009 in an interview with educator Fred Klonsky:

A question for Diane Ravitch

Hi, Fred,
I think that Bush wishes he could have imposed the agenda laid out in Race to the Top, but he would have had to fight against the Democrats in Congress.

They would never have supported a plan that bribed states to lift the caps on charter schools–far too intrusive, and many would have seen this as privatization. Nor would they have supported a federal requirement that states remove any legal restriction on linking teacher evaluations to student test scores–not only because it is offensive to teachers, who know that they are not solely responsible for their students’ scores, but because the research does not support this idea.

So, do I think that Duncan is carrying forward Bush’s agenda? Yes, beyond the dreams of Margaret Spellings, and without the opposition of the Democrats in Congress.

But please, tell me, do you think I am wrong? Do you like the fact that a Democratic administration is promoting charters, private management, merit pay, and high-stakes testing for teachers?

Diane Ravitch

Arne Duncan is pushing through the education agenda of George and Jeb Bush. There is no opposition from Democrats in congress.

There is, though, plenty of denial as we lose our public education system to private companies.

And there is plenty of criticism and contempt toward those of us who point out what is happening right under our noses.