Weekend readings

It's not just the Republicans

But blaming Bush II alone for various policies conceals deeper-seeded problems in America. Education has suffered under both parties. For instance, President Bush's landmark legislation, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), shares the core values of the Democratic Party as expressed by the New Democratic Coalition, the Democratic Leadership Council, the Progressive Policy Institute, and Democrats For Education Reform - all guiding forces in the new administration. In fact, Andrew J. Rotherham, an Obama campaign advisor, published an articled titled, "How Bush Stole Education," claiming, "Mr. Bush's education agenda is largely a New Democratic one." (Kenneth Libby--Counterpunch)

Will Chicago bail out failing Catholic schools?

McCaughey, 59, is already taking steps to reinvent Chicago's Catholic schools. She will announce on Monday the establishment of a newly formed archdiocesan school board responsible for implementing a new vision for the schools. In coming months, she expects to reopen two closed Catholic schools as learning evangelization centers, a different school model from preschool to 2nd grade. She also plans to explore charter-school conversions, corporate tax credits, and public and private partnerships to fund cash-strapped schools. "Nothing is off the table," she said. (Chicago Tribune)

Ron Huberman's inheritance

Huberman, who was never a school teacher, collided with a pre-existing condition on his first day on the job. However he seems to have survived the grass roots protest over the closing of 16 neighborhood schools. Besides it was just a bump in a road paved by his predecessor, Arne Duncan, a guy now situated well beyond the range of local slings and arrows. (Edward Hayes--Examiner.com)