Reply #2: In some ways Al From and his ilk were/are like Norquist....

[madfloridian]

Like Grover Norquist in his power over the GOP. No Democratic leaders crossed them and survived very long. Well, a few tried. But they in one think tank or the other have much power. Money talks.

In fact, charter schools were touted by Al From in 2000, maybe earlier.

Al From called for charter schools in 2000. Now failed schools can be made charter schools.

"The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) is now calling for reforms including school choice and merit pay for teachers.....America is a tale of two public school systems: one that works reasonably well, although it could certainly be better, and one that is by almost any standard a disaster," says From.

.."From argues that the public school system too often serves the interests of teachers and administrators at the expense of the students themselves. It is a "monopolistic" system that "offers a 'one-size-fits-hardly-anyone' model that strangles excellence and innovation" he says.

Characterizing charter schools as "oases of innovation," From writes, "The time has come to bring life to the rest of the desert-by introducing the same forces of choice and competition to every public school in America."

From also says Democrats should work to redefine the very notion of public education itself."


Indeed the Democrats are now redefining education so quickly we can't stop them. :(