Michelle feels bad

[proud2BlibKansan]

With Fenty out, is D.C. school reform over?
http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=E7BFD720-C109-11DF-8E82000C296BA163&aka=0

She makes me gag!! She is being interviewed about the mayor's loss last night and promotes the documentary she is in! Is she making money off of this movie???

[YvonneCa]

1. I saw that when I first turned on MSNBC...

...this morning. It scared me. :scared: Really. :7

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. She has no solutions other than lie and fire teachers

And her 15 minutes has been up for about 5 years now.

[godai]

3. You are 100% wrong.

Good luck getting a better person to run the DC schools. Rhee doesn't need this grief. If you know anything about the state of public school education, you know that the steps she was taking were for the good of the students. Firing incompetent teachers was necessary, but they extracted their revenge last night.

Take some time to read this:

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2019395,00.html

and this:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444-2,00.html

[YvonneCa]

5. I know a lot about the state of public education...

...but I wonder about some of these 'so-called' leaders.

As to the grief, she brought it on herself...which is why this method should NOT be done nationally. Then such 'grief' would fall on Democrats...and I don't want that to happen.

[godai]

6. You're against firing incompetent teachers?

That's what turned the teacher's union against her. She recently worked out a contract with the union to pay teachers up to $140,000 a year.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Wow. Do you often pull shit out of nowhere to make a point?

That poster you are replying to said nothing about incompetent teachers.

[YvonneCa]

10. I think this person is more than a little...

...confused. :7

[godai]

11. The 'fired teachers' are gone. They were incompetent.

The union would not have allowed the firings if they were based on 'lies'.

So, do you favor firing incompetent teachers? That's all I asked you. You call that pulling shit out of nowhere?

[YvonneCa]

13. How do you know this to be...

...the case? "The union would not have allowed the firings if they were based on 'lies'."

[godai]

14. Just makes sense to me. No? n/t

[YvonneCa]

20. No. n/t

[soleiri]

26. no

okay, it might make sense to you, but it doesn't to me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The union allowed the firings??

Got a link? I had no idea firings were either allowed or not allowed by unions. How very interesting.

[godai]

19. Here's a link...Teachers claimed union bungled the legal action.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Fired-D_C_-teachers-fire-back-at-union-8608264-78174787.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. Bungled and allowed mean the same thing?

You're on a roll here. Hopefully you don't teach.

[Recursion]

42. I'm about as pro-Rhee as you can get on this board, but your claim is kind of silly

Parker (the WTU president) did literally everything within his power to keep Rhee from laying off teachers (laying off is apparently much easier than firing). The fact that he couldn't stop it is because Rhee essentially has a blank check from Fenty to do whatever she wants; he made it clear he will completely back whatever decisions she made.

[proud2BlibKansan]

28. What makes you think they were incompetent?

Rhee called them child molesters. Do you believe her? Were they incompetent child molesters?

[cjbgreen]

44. read the contract!

The salary is based on bonus funded by private corporations who have the option to withdraw their funding. Read their contract, get the facts and find out if anyone ever receives this salary. Her reforms did not work. Her claim to fame is starting a war, much like someone else who wasn't prepared for the job and got a pass from the press. This is not about kids nor was there any recognition that effective schools requires the work of everyone not a mass of individuals with no sense of community or long term success. If she cared she would meet with Gray and do everything she could to continue the reforms she believes in?
Michelle Rhee wasn't given limitless powers and budget (and she couldn't get it done). See EPI Briefing Paper #278.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Do you approve of taping kids' mouths shut to keep them from talking?

Rhee does. And thinks it's funny.

She also likes to make fun of the way African American kids talk.

And she labels teachers as child molesters to justify firing them.

Her miracle test score increases have already been debunked. Right here in fact. Rhee has no understanding of statistics and measurement.

Michelle Rhee is a fucking monster who shouldn't be allowed anywhere near children. I give her a 100% FAIL grade.

[godai]

12. Link?? Nonsense!

At least now I see how much you detest Rhee.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. We've discussed her at length here in this forum

As a visitor, I can see where you wouldn't know that. But all of us who regularly post here in the Ed forum are well aware of Rhee's shenanigans.

On one particularly rowdy day, she said she decided to place little pieces of masking tape on their lips for the trip to the school cafeteria for lunch.

“OK kids, we’re going to do something special today!” she said she told them.

Rhee said it worked well until they actually arrived at the cafeteria. “I was like, ‘OK, take the tape off. I realized I had not told the kids to lick their lips beforehand…The skin is coming off their lips and they’re bleeding. Thirty-five kids were crying.”

“I was trying to express how difficult the first year of teaching can be with some humor."

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2010/08/16/baltimore-schools-have-really-strong-masking-tape/

The other story involved an after school trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor--a reward for good behavior--that Rhee took with four students. She said as she drove them home, she asked each of them where they lived. Three gave their addresses, but despite repeated attempts, the fourth would not respond. It was early evening and the school was locked, meaning she did not have access to their emergency contact information.

"I start to panic...my heart is beating 100 miles a minute," she said. Then the other three children, sensing her worry, chimed in. She recalled one little boy saying:

"Lawwwd Ms.Rhee whatchu gonna do!!!!??" Rhee boomed, drawing a big laugh. "Lawwwd Ms. Rhee whatchu gonna do!!!!??"

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/08/michelle_rhee_first-year_teach.html

[godai]

17. She was talking about her misadventures as a 1st year teacher.

Her whole tone was that she made dumb mistakes as a novice teacher.

Not to worry though..she'll be off to California soon. Then the DC schools can resume their previous standards.

[YvonneCa]

22. As a former 'first year teacher' in California...

...I can tell you that IF I made such a dumb mistake...I would never have survived student-teaching...let alone, a first year.

And IF I had later bragged about such incompetence...I'd be fired. She's welcome to come to California. We'll see how that turns out...

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. And those mistakes would get a teacher suspended or fired today

Plus they just aren't funny. What kind of a sadist even thinks about taping kids' mouths and then LAUGHS about it later? What kind of a BIGOT belittles the way children talk? No one who should be allowed near children.

[Hannah Bell]

30. ha. she taught less than three years total. as a teach for america teacher.

she taped her kids' mouths shut & took them away from school on a "field trip" without bothering to get parents permission or find out where they lived. she also does a good "mammy" accent when she tells stories on her ex-students.

she claims she raised their scores 90% by "innovations" such as -- get ready -- seating them in a circle for reading.

she's a clown.

she also helped cover up her fiancee's sexual hijinks with underaged girls & his appropriation of tax money for personal use. read the deposition: high creepiness:

http://deadspin.com/381513/revisiting-kevin-johnsons-harold-reynolds-defense

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Exclusive-Congressional-Report-Rhee-did-damage-control-after-sex-charges-against-fiancee-Kevin-Johnson.html

http://rokdrop.com/2009/11/23/michelle-rhee-linked-to-kevin-johnson-sex-scandal-cover-up/

that's what a winner she is.

you're clueless.

[soleiri]

35. In a circle?

Let me write that down...

[Hannah Bell]

41. yes. who woulda thunk it? that's why we need those smart people in charge.

[Hannah Bell]

32. 54-45. The public doesn't want her.

[YvonneCa]

4. Yes, her 'slash and burn' (and fire) methods do not work...

...at all. They actually, IMHO, set back the process of real education reform.

[MichiganVote]

9. K&R

[soleiri]

18. I need to stop screaming at the computer

It isn't healthy.



What I noticed online today was a lot of people criticizing the decisions that the people of DC made in regard to their children's education. As if they were too stupid to realize how wonderful Chancellor Rhee is. If I was from DC, I'd be really insulted.

btw, other school districts have a superintendent, why does DC call the position, chancellor?

[godai]

21. The vote was 53/47, no landslide, along racial lines. n/t

[soleiri]

24. exactly

Along racial lines. So now I see a bunch of (no offense to white people, I'm of some European descent, myself) affluent white people criticizing the decision made by the African-American residents of DC. Without asking them why they reject her idea of reform, instead assuming that they know why they voted the way they did.

[godai]

25. I would point out that Rhee was appointed and supported by Fenty.

The vote was more a rejection of Fenty, who is African American.

[Hannah Bell]

31. what bullshit. rhee & school deform are fenty's signature items.

ps: gray is also african american. in case you didn't get it.

[Recursion]

38. Actually they weren't during his election

Standing up to power brokers in local government was his signature idea; I don't even remember Rhee being mentioned until after the election.

[Recursion]

39. Ah, but Gray is "more" African-American

Fenty got most of the white vote in DC, but both candidates are African American. Fenty is sometimes called "not black enough" (I find that phrase troubling; I'm just quoting).

[YvonneCa]

23. ...

...:7

[Recursion]

37. Because there's no school board in DC

There used to be, but every few years the city gets exasperated with how shitty the schools are and changes the management structure (for the crowd who keep asking "when do you fire administrators?", in DC it's every year or so). Currently there's a chancellor who reports directly to the mayor; the city council has basically 0 involvement except for an up-or-down vote on the budget. This ends in 2 years, and IIRC it goes to a school board half of whose members are elected and half appointed by the city council.

[Starry Messenger]

33. I wonder about people's financial ties to these movies too.

I'm sure she's coming here to CA next. She and the Kevster canceled their fancy wedding when the SacBee went after them for conflict of interest in their choice of host for the fancy celebration. It will be an interesting next couple of years here if she does, to say the least...

[Hannah Bell]

34. kevin the perv. read the dirt here:

Our investigation disclosed evidence of sexual misconduct towards young female Members by Mr. Johnson. One Member, (Ex. 19 hereto), reported that, in the February/March 2007 time frame, she was entering grades into the SAC High database system per Mr. Johnson’s instructions at the St. HOPE office at night, purportedly as part of her AmeriCorps service.

contacted Mr. Johnson to inform him that she had completed the grades and wanted him to review them. About 11:00 pm, Mr. Johnson arrived at St. HOPE and instructed to gather her things and come with him. Mr. Johnson drove to apartment, which is managed by St. HOPE Development and houses its AmeriCorps Members, purportedly so that they could review the students’ grades.

While in , in which another AmeriCorps Member had a separate bedroom, Mr, Johnson laid down on bed, sat on the edge of the bed to show him the grades, at which time Mr. Johnson “layed down behind me, cupping his body around mine like the letter C. After about 2-3 minutes or so, I felt his hand on my left side where my hip bone is.”

Further, although not detailed in her written statement, , during the interview, demonstrated, while explaining, that Mr. Johnson’s hand went under her untucked shirt and moved until his hand was on her hip. immediately got up and stated she was done and left the room.

When she returned, Mr. Johnson was still in her bed, but now apparently sleeping. Only after sought to take a blanket to sleep elsewhere did Mr. Johnson exit to the living room of the apartment. related that Mr. Johnson slept on the couch in her apartment living room that night and subsequently left the apartment at approximately 6 a.m. the next day.

After, as put it, she “got the courage to tell… my supervisors,” she reported the incident, which, she was informed, was communicated to St. HOPE Academy’s Human Resources Department and the Chief Financial Officer.

The night after made her report, Mr. Johnson approached her and apologized. Subsequently, Kevin Hiestand, Johnson’s personal attorney, met with , described himself only “as a friend of Johnson,” and “basically asked me to keep quiet.”

Also, about one week after this incident, when told Mr. Johnson she was going to quit because of financial and family reasons, Mr. Johnson “offered to give me $1,000 a month until the end of the program,” stating that it would be confidential “between him and I.” As related that conversation, Mr. Johnson “said all he needed was my savings account number,” he would make the deposit and “no one needed to know about it.” did not accept this offer by giving Mr. Johnson her account number.

Another former Member, (Ex. 20 hereto), reported that, while attending a St. HOPE sponsored trip to Harlem, NY, from June 26 to July 16, 2006, Mr. Johnson, on three occasions, “brushed leg with his hand,” including once “flip
reported another incident that occurred in Sacramento, CA, in which Mr. Johnson touched inner thigh with his hand while enroute to a restaurant. said she did not report the incidents to AmeriCorps officials at that time because she feared she would be terminated from the program and because Mr. Johnson was assisting her in obtaining acceptance into the United States Military Academy, where she subsequently enrolled.

In addition, former SAC High teacher Mr. Erik Jones (Ex. 12 hereto) reported that a former AmeriCorps Member, , reported to him, sometime in 2007, that, while at SAC High, Mr. Johnson had inappropriately touched her. Mr. Jones stated that had reported that Mr. Johnson started massaging her shoulders and then reached over and touched her breasts.

(Attempts to interview have been so far unsuccessful.) Mr. Jones related that, after he reported this incident to St. HOPE Academy officials, he was contacted by Mr. Hiestand, Mr. Johnson’s attorney, but who identified himself solely as St. HOPE’S counsel, and stated he was conducting an internal investigation. Mr. Hiestand told Mr. Jones that “story” was different from Mr, Jones’ and told Mr. Jones to change his “story” and then go back to work. Mr. Jones, realizing what he was being asked to do, elected to resign as a teacher and left SAC High.

http://rokdrop.com/2009/11/23/michelle-rhee-linked-to-kevin-johnson-sex-scandal-cover-up/


During the Summer of 1995, a 16 year old girl went to the police claiming that Johnson had fondled her. During a phone conversation recorded by the Phoenix police, Johnson apologized to the girl. The Sacramento Bee stated that they had received a copy of a proposed settlement agreement, under which Johnson would have paid the girl’s family $230,000. After conducting an investigation, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute, on the grounds that there was not a reasonable likelihood of conviction. This sort of thing would have stopped Kevin Johnson from being hired as a principal. Fortunately, for Mister Johnson it didn’t stop him from running a very large charter school.

With Michelle Rhee on the board, In 2003, Johnson formed St. HOPE Public Schools, a pre-K-12 independent charter school system that provides education to nearly 2,000 students in seven small schools. The allegations soon followed. In 2007 another police report was filed by a student who also claimed that Johnson fondled her. After allegations of intimidation, those charges were dropped when the student recanted her testimony.

Gerald Walpin, Inspector General of Americorps began an investigation of Johnson after he was charged by 3 young women employees of making inappropriate sexual advances towards them and it became known that Johnson had misused some of the $800,000 in federal Americorps money given to St. Hope. Johnson had used the money to pay volunteers to engage in school-board political activities, run personal errands for Johnson and even wash his car. He even offered one teacher $1,000 a month in hush money secretly transferred to her bank account.

So what was Michelle Rhee’s role in this scandal. First, she was described as complainants as being the one in charge of damage control at St. Hope. She approached the Inspector General to try to intervene for Johnson. “The basic point of her meeting with me was to tell me what a great guy he was,” Walpin recalls, “and what wonderful work he has done, and that maybe he had made mistakes administratively, but that she thought I should give as much consideration as possible to his good work in deciding what to do.” This is the same Michelle Rhee who has shown no such patience for the teachers who she has shown the door.

http://thatsrightnate.com/2009/11/24/catching-up-with-michelle-rhee/

16-year-old girl, 1995:



http://deadspin.com/381513/revisiting-kevin-johnsons-harold-reynolds-defense


that's rhee's husband. where's the du sexcrime unit on this one?

[Starry Messenger]

43. That's so gross.

:puke: Husband to be. They postponed the wedding. Evidently the ostentatious display they had planned sent the wrong message to us proles out here.

[Hannah Bell]

45. ah, i thought they'd already had the ceremony. maybe she found out his secret past.

oh, wait, she helped cover it up.

[BrklynLiberal]

36. Gosh..I would seem we must have Michelle Rhee's sister posting on this thread....

[YvonneCa]

40. But not on this one...

...http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcschools/2010/09/rhee_election_result_devastati.html#more

LOTS of comments.