Ex- Gov takes on Willy Week in defense of Obama

In a recent Blue Oregon post, former Governor Barbara Roberts calls Willamette Week's editorial linking Barack Obama to Bill Sizemore's teacher pay-for-performance ballot measure "woefully misleading".  Obama does not support "merit pay" for teachers, says Roberts, certainly not in any way compatible with Sizemore's Measure 60.

Since I linked to Beth Slovic's WWeek piece in a post yesterday, I feel obligated to weigh in.  Here's the issue in a nutshell:  

Slovic implied that Obama lends support to Bill Sizemore's Measure 60 by using the phrase "pay for performance".  Roberts claims that's entirely untrue.  Obama's educational platform, she says, is "incompatible" with M60.

So who's right?  While it's true that Obama has mentioned  "merit pay" favorably on occasion (I wrote about it here), he doesn't use the phrase at all in the video accompanying Slovic's piece.  Nor does he use the term anywhere in his educational platform. 

In fact, Obama has softened his stance on teacher accountability considerably.  His website specifically says that that he'll promote "new and innovative ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them."  That doesn't sound much like Sizemore's approach, nor the tactics of accountability freaks like Washington DC superintendent --excuse me, chancellor-- of schools, Michelle Rhee.  

Obama  even evidences some awareness of how school reform actually works.  He proposes, for example, "common planning time so [teachers] can collaborate to share best practices."

Then again he supports charter schools, which teachers don't like and I don't like. Even so, Obama has "nuanced" his approach to charters:

"An Obama-Biden administration will provide this expanded charter school funding only to states that improve accountability for charter schools, allow for interventions in struggling charter schools and have a clear process for closing down chronically underperforming charter schools. An Obama-Biden administration will also prioritize supporting states that help the most successful charter schools to expand to serve more students."

So what's the verdict in the Roberts - Slovic spat?  Call it a draw.  Sorry Bill Sizemore, but I really don't think that Obama, if he were an Oregon voter, would endorse Measure 60. 

Comments

[Beth Slovic]

Hi Terry,

I made clear high in my story that Obama's plan was "substantially different" than Sizemore's measure. I even detailed what's happening in Denver as an example of what Obama talks about when he talks about merit pay on the campaign trail.

It was disheartening to see Gov. Roberts did not read my story carefully. At the end, I also include a quote from Obama making the same point you did (that merit pay systems should be designed with teacher, he says.)

My two cents.

Happy Halloween!

Beth

[Terry]

Well, I'm on your side Beth. Maybe Gov. Roberts didn't read beyond the first two paragraphs

[anne t.]

Interesting to note that in the educational reform movement there are the pro charter people (Obama) and the Procharter/pro-voucher people. (McCain) This came up during the presidential debate. I know Vicki Phillips was pro-charter but clearly anti-voucher.

[trueblue]

Speaking for myself I believe that to be true Anne. I have always been vehemently anti-voucher, but generally pro-charter.

[Steve Buel]

When I heard Obama speak on education I was dismayed that he talked about merit pay. Nice to find out he is more sensible than I was led to believe. Hillarly was for getting rid of NCLB. Wish my man, Obama, would take up that standard. We can only hope.