Reformers can't Dodge Race Issues.

All about the adults

The Huffington Post’s, Richard Whitmire wrote an article about race affecting the attitude of change in schools. The article talks about former Washington DC Public School Chancellor, Michelle Rhee and her bold reforms. While she was in office, she closed down schools and fired numerous teachers and principals. The problem Rhee did not count on, was that in a mainly black community, firing black people and calling them incompetent will not go over well. The problem was linked back to Mayor Marion Berry when he created jobs for black people merely as a way to balance racism of the past. Many of his appointees and their created jobs were costing tax payers millions. In addition, the people placed in those positions were unable to perform. When Rhee came into office and tried to fire these people she was told, “Here at DCPS, we don't fire people for incompetence…(w)e send them to the schools."

From an outside perspective, Rhee was attempting to fix an issue caused by a politician who was only trying to secure himself votes. Sounds logical and efficient right? Wrong. The problem with this and other issues plaguing schools is this issue is all about the adults and not about the children. Instead of looking at positive changes being made and demonstrable improvements being shown, the adults cry racism for the firing of incompetent black teachers and principals. This is where racism gets turned on its head and makes waves in the wrong direction. Legitimately calling a person or organization out for racism should be reserved for positive social change. An incompetent employee, who happens to be a minority should not automatically use their race as justification for keeping a job they do not deserve.

Michelle Rhee made radical changes and her work had positive empirical and statistical results, yet the race issue was the deciding factor to accuse her of foul play. The whole time I was reading this article I had to ask, “what about the kids?” This is another example of adults putting themselves before children and education. Michelle Rhee may not have all the answers; however, it is not hard to see that she was trying to put the children’s needs ahead of the adults. Instead of looking at what she was trying to do for a failed education system, she was attacked as a racist for depriving black people of politically appointed jobs they did not deserve. In order for us as American to ignite true reforms in education, parents, teachers, and politicians need to put the kids first.