Shanker Seance
I haven't read Tough Liberal by Richard Kahlenberg, but by most accounts it is a fine biography of a man deserving of such - the late American Federation of Teachers President Al Shanker. I also understand the mandates of the publishing world, in which the author himself is forced to become the one and only publicity source for his work.
Nonetheless, Kahlenberg's forays into the op-ed world seem a little odd to me. Granted, he probably knows more about Shanker than anyone else, but his columns have him acting as Shanker's mouthpiece, as if Kahlenberg were attempting to channel him.
Shanker on the No Child Left Behind Act? Check.
Shanker on the New York City merit pay plan? Got it.
And, appropriately on Halloween, Shanker on Utah's upcoming voucher election.
That's not to say Kahlenberg is misrepresenting Shanker's views. On the contrary, I think he's got them down pat. I'm only wondering if maybe we could get a column about Shanker on Randi Weingarten, Shanker on Pat Tornillo, Shanker on the ING-NYSUT scandal, Shanker on the NEA, or Shanker on schools without teachers.
"Where We Stand" would become a must-read again.
Nonetheless, Kahlenberg's forays into the op-ed world seem a little odd to me. Granted, he probably knows more about Shanker than anyone else, but his columns have him acting as Shanker's mouthpiece, as if Kahlenberg were attempting to channel him.
Shanker on the No Child Left Behind Act? Check.
Shanker on the New York City merit pay plan? Got it.
And, appropriately on Halloween, Shanker on Utah's upcoming voucher election.
That's not to say Kahlenberg is misrepresenting Shanker's views. On the contrary, I think he's got them down pat. I'm only wondering if maybe we could get a column about Shanker on Randi Weingarten, Shanker on Pat Tornillo, Shanker on the ING-NYSUT scandal, Shanker on the NEA, or Shanker on schools without teachers.
"Where We Stand" would become a must-read again.
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