March 2, 2008
You'll Laugh, You'll Scream, You'll Cry
Not NITRO-BURNING FUNNY CARS!, sorry, but this education video from Drew Carey at ReasonTV. Some parents and a caring principal at Locke High School in Watts try to wrestle a failing school away from the teachers' union.
Vikki Reyes has had it with Locke High, the school her daughters attend in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. She walked in on class one day and recalls “the place was just like a zoo!” Students had taken control, while the teacher sat quietly with a book.Frank Wells has also had it with Locke High. When he became principal he says gangs ruled the campus. He tried to turn things around but ran into a “brick wall” of resistance from the school district and teachers union.
Locke seemed destined to languish in high crime and low test scores until Wells, Reyes, and many reform-minded teachers joined with a maverick named Steve Barr in an attempt to break free from the status quo. Their battle is just one example of the charter school education revolt that’s erupting across the nation.
Stunning. Please watch it. I elected to link instead of embed the video viewer on the blog because I have had some trouble with their player. One extra click if you don't mind.
SIDE NOTE: I remain suspicious about the propaganda aspect of video. One watches what Michael Moore can do when he controls the editing block, or VP Al Gore, or 60 minutes. I agree with every syllable, spoken or implied on this video -- yet part of me wonders is it is fair,
The Union stooge is easy to demonize and seems to deserve it. I just wonder now that every kid with a Mac can get his inner Reni Riefenstahl on. The ReasonTV stuff is well done and carries the credibility of the magazine. I read this morning that Nick Gillespie is leaving the book for the ReasonTV site.
I have cheered the rise of blogs, the long tail, and the "Armies of Davids" but it is naive to not appreciate the polemic power of plentiful and professional-looking video.