When it comes to writing about D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and reforming D.C. public education, major newspapers appear only willing to focus on advancing Chancellor Rhee as an innovator who can by herself save public education for District of Columbia students. Ms. Lauren Smith, writing an article for the U.S. News & World Report, "D.C. Schools Chief Michelle Rhee Fights Union Over Teacher Pay" shows how the national media has become a part of a national effort to push education reform with biased reporting. The national media has taken not only to ignoring the people of the District of Columbia; it has seemingly decided to ignore contrary data.
It is amazing that editorial writers and reporters find it difficult to talk with District community education advocates about District public education. Ms. Smith's article fails to present a fair and balanced report by not quoting any official of the Washington Teachers Union or any local representative from any District of Columbia ward councils on education. Instead, Ms. Smith cites Mr. Jay P. Greene, a senior fellow, Center for Civic Innovation (CCI) Manhattan Institute as her source of expertise on District public education. Mr. Greene is also the endowed chair and head of the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas.
CCI, based in New York City, reportedly supports charter schools and private school vouchers, something Ms. Smith conveniently omitted from her article. Ms. Smith's article was clearly biased to support Chancellor Rhee and equally wrong on her facts. Chancellor Rhee can hire "gifted teachers without having to fire teachers." Chancellor Rhee can and has fired "tenured" teachers. Clearly, Ms. Smith writing was to misrepresent facts and to continue burnishing a negative perception and inaccurate impression of District public school teachers.
Demonizing teachers while letting administrators off the hook is SOP with the media.
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