Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott named controversial former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee to his education transition team Thursday.
“„Later, she explained how she planned to spend that money by applying business principles to the classroom, citing a study by an economist named Eric Hanushek. She said if the U.S. fired 6-10 percent of the worst teachers in the country and replaced them “not even with the best, but with average teachers,” U.S. schools would move from 21, 25 and 26th in math to the top 5.
“„“Now let me just say, to all of you business people…” Rhee continued.
“„“Wait wait wait,” the moderator, Harvard University’s David Gergen, interrupted. “…Do you believe this?”
“„Rhee replied: “Yes, I actually do. If someone told you as a business, that if you removed the bottom 6 percent of your performers, that you would move from 25th in the market to top-5, you would do it in a heartbeat. You would not even think twice about it. But we have an incredibly hard time in this in this country. We like teachers. It is an incredibly noble position in this country. But we have to look at the reality…