After a private meeting with NYC Chancellor Joel Klein, John McCain has come out openly in support of the new EEP coalition headed by Klein and Al Sharpton.
This conservative policy group was formed to counter the more progressive Bolder, Broader group. EEP is generally anti-Teachers Union and more oriented towards privatization.
The BB group on the other hand, makes the case that schools can't be expected to shoulder the burden of school reform alone--without massive supports put in place to counter the effects of poverty and inequality. Klein's group calls that approach, "making excuses" for low test scores. That's also been the line of the Bush administration and the underlying philosophy of NCLB.
In return for McCain's endorsement, Mayor Bloomberg, will make a statement Friday, in support of McCain's education policies--such as they are. McCain is an advocate of school vouchers, privatization, and teaching creationism in public school classrooms.
I think it's a lose-lose proposition all around. McCain's endorsement of EEP could be the kiss of death for the policy group, which is based largely within the center/right of the Democratic Party. On the other hand, Bloomberg's support for McCain's extreme right-wing ed policies drops the mask of neutrality from the Mayor's face and does little to bring any new votes McCain's way.
Thank you John McCain for making things a little clearer. It will now be that much harder for centrist liberals to keep one foot in each group.
You listening, Chicago CEO Arne Duncan?
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