What is the rumor? That former Georgia governor Roy Barnes is on the list for consideration by Barack Obama for the the position of Education Secretary.
Let me explain why that sounds so improbable. It is Governor Barnes stance against the teachers union that cost him his reelection bid. He tried to put forth legislation that would strip teachers of immunity from being fired for cause even if they were tenured. He also sat on the No Child Left Behind Commission. We all know how much the world of academia loves the NCLB legislation.
Back in 2000 Bob Chase, then president of the NEA, had this to say about former governor Barnes.
Political grandstanding.
Some state politicians, such as Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, have sought to blame disappointing student test scores on fair dismissal rights. This is absurd-- political grandstanding at its worst. Wisconsin students, for example, often score first in the ACTs. Oregon students top the SATs. But teachers in both states enjoy fair dismissal rights.
Fair dismissal rights do not protect bad teachers. They pre-vent good teachers from being treated badly. Our union will fight to retain these rights. And states that eliminate them will find it more difficult to recruit quality teachers.
A competent, caring and qualified teacher in every classroom-- we have not yet reached this overarching goal. But we are making progress. Now is not the time for states to reverse course, declaring it an open season on teachers, good and bad
Thanks to him taking on the teachers Georgia elected their first Republican governor since the Civil War.
So folks I think it is safe to put this one into the wishful thinking category.
UPDATED: Well maybe it isn't wishful thinking afterall. Here is a link to the AP article which mentions him on the list of possible candidates for the job.
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