DC Teacher’s Clique

by philosophunk

Recently, it was reported on DCist that DC Teacher Chic, an area teacher and edu-blogger, finally had enough bureaucracy/disorganization/absurdity from DCPS and quit her full time teaching position at a southeast DC middle school. It is unknown how frequently this situation occurs, and to what extent it goes unnoticed and how much it may contribute to the dearth of experienced teachers in the city. These questions and uncertainties got me thinking about DC Teacher Chic’s situation.

Although I had never read DC Teacher Chic’s blog prior to her resignation from DCPS, it seems like an illuminating record for for the rest of the public that does not have have a sense of how absurdly disruptive a public school classroom can get. I won’t lie; when I read the first paragraph of her farewell post, my initial reaction to her resigning from her position was somewhere between distaste and resentment. When confronted with situations like this, it is easy to have a knee-jerk reaction of what one is supposed to think.

Formative Years: A School for Malia and Sasha

by philosophunk

We’ve got a new President, and the White House will soon have a new hypo-allergenic, adopted, puppy mill-rescued canine playing on the grounds. Although determining what type of puppy to get Sasha and Malia is a task that will undoubtedly receive more scrutiny than his solution to the global economic crisis, President-Elect Barack Obama has substantially bigger fish to fry in the selection of educational institutions for his adorably sweet pre-Washington daughters.

A school for their daughters is probably the most difficult choice that Michelle and Barack will have to make in the coming eight (that’s right, I said it) years. Hopefully, when the family leaves the White House, Sasha will be 18 and Malia, 15. These girls will not only be learning some of the most important lessons of their life at their new school, but they will grow into young women. Thus, it is imperative that the President- and First Lady-elect read this review of the schools that the family should consider in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. As an educator and native of this city, I am certain that I can offer the Obamas the essential informed and unbiased opinion of the area’s educational institutions of all types: public, private, parochial, and other. Whether they listen is up to the omniscient intergoogleweb.

Despite Michelle Rhee’s efforts, the DC public school pickings are slim. Thus, we will definitely disqualify them for the running. Moreover, I don’t think that the Catholic and Christian schools in the area can hold a candle to the region’s independent schools, so that pretty much rules them out as well. Thus, in order of my increasing endorsement, here is what I feel are the Obamas’ best choices of schools for Sasha and Malia.