The notion about education has changed and that now itโs sort of much more aligned with, โWell, schools canโt combat poverty. We canโt possibly expect schools to do the work to overcome poverty.โ I think that notion which has changed over the last few decades is part, not all, but part of what is maybe leading to people feeling less of a sense of possibility.
Michelle RheeI believe that the teachers unions are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing. They were designed to be professional organizations that protect the rights and privileges and pay of their members. The problem is that we don't have an organized national interest group with the same heft as the teachers union that's advocating on behalf of children.
Michelle RheeIn schools where parent involvement is greater, you do have higher achievement levels and better functioning, better performing schools.
Michelle RheeMy parents came from an environment where everyone knew that the way to be successful was to get a great education, and that was going to be your ticket in life. If you could succeed in education then you would succeed in life, so that was sort of the driving force behind my parents' upbringing, and therefore kind of how they brought me up.
Michelle Rhee