Several weeks ago renowned education journalist John Merrow began speculating on who might be the most influential educator in America. Of his four “nominees,” (Wendy Kopp, Big Bird, Arne Duncan and Joel Klein), Merrow settled on Joel Klein, former New York City School chancellor, for his “remarkable network of eleven protégés now influencing what happens in schools and classrooms around the nation.” The selection of Klein proved contentious, with many feeling that Klein had been a negative force in NYC schools.
A week later, Merrow threw out several other possibilities: Diane Ravitch, Howard Gardner, and E.D. Hirsch, Jr. And just to make it more interesting, he added what he called his wild card: the “Roberto/Robert team,” comprised of Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to President Obama for Education, and Robert Gordon of the OMB tasked with finding wasted cash in the education and labor sectors. Merrow speculates that these two players could, in the process of doing their jobs, cause gridlock in education reform—a “Rodriguez proposes and Gordon disposes” scenario.
Last week, Merrow’s readers overwhelmingly chose Diane Ravitch as the most influential American educator. He noted that he was not surprised by her victory, but that the “opposing army,” whose members include Brian Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Teach for America, Michelle Rhee, charter school supporters, and powerful business and financial leaders, is particularly well-armed for conflict. A standout member of this group is New York Times columnist David Brooks, who took Ravitch to task just a few days after she had been crowned by Merrow’s readers. The attack was thorough, and has added more fuel to the fire that is the education war.
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