ED in '08 - what's this about?

Does anyone know anything about this event? The notice came in yesterday's email. With Newt Gingrich as a keynote speaker, it kinda makes a person wonder what the politcal agenda is of the "Strong American Schools" people. Of course, I should be following my own advice about listening to people with different views!

The other speakers look really interesting.

Dear Education Blogger,

Strong American Schools is excited to announce the ED in '08 Blogger Summit.

Conference details are as follows:

May 14th - 15th  
Palomar Hotel, Washington DC
Registration Is Free!

An opening reception is scheduled on the evening of Wednesday, May 14th.  Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served before the screening of a new documentary film on education, Two Million Minutes.  A Q&A session with the filmmakers is set to follow.

Then join us for an all-day conference on May 15th.  Nowhere else will you have an opportunity to meet and network with fellow education bloggers, participate in panels, attend workshops, and help tackle tough questions on the state of education in America.

Highlights include a speech from keynote speaker Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the announcement of the winner of the ED in '08 Blog Award.

Space is limited, so be sure to REGISTER NOW!


About Strong American Schools
Strong American Schools, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is a nonpartisan campaign supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation promoting sound education policies for all Americans.  SAS does not support or oppose any candidate for public office and does not take positions on legislation.

Anybody else going to this? Has this event been held before and if so was it any good?

Comments

[Doug Noon]

From the Center for Research on Globalization:

Billionaires Bill Gates and Eli Broad put up $60 million for the effort for the big returns they expect. Former Colorado governor and (from 2001 - 2006) superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District Roy Romer is the chairman. The Rockefeller (family) Philanthropy Advisors are also involved as one of their efforts "to bring the entire world under their sway" in the words of one analyst. Other steering committee members include former IBM CEO and current Carlyle Group chairman Lou Gerstner; former Michigan governor and current National Association of Manufacturers president John Engler; and Gates Foundation head Allan Golston.

"Ed in '08" has a three-point agenda:
-- ending seniority and substituting merit pay for teachers based on student test scores;
-- national education standards based on rote learning; standards are to be uniformly based on "what (business thinks) ought to be taught, grade by grade;" it's to prepare some students for college and the majority for workplace low-skill, low-paid, no-benefit jobs; and
-- longer school days and school year; unmentioned but key is eliminating unions or making them weak and ineffective.

From Schools Matter:

Bill Gates and Eli Broad have committed $60 million for a media blitz and pocket-stuffing campaign aimed at blaming the public schools for economic insecurity. Following in a long history of crisis- mongering that hopes to keep attention away from the real source of economic uncertainty and increasing debt, Gates and Broad serve as front men for a rapacious and under-handed corporate America that continues to execute and plan an unending exportation of any American job that isn't nailed down to cheap foreign labor markets. Look, look, see the failing schools!!!

I got an invitation too.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Doug,

So are you going ;-)

Thanks for the info. I suspected as much.

Doug

[M. Walker]

Doug,
I looked up the Strong American Schools project and Roy Romer, the chairperson. I had a diferent take.
See the Wikipedia entry for Romer here.
Based on this entry, he seems to be a fairly good guy, though having Gingrich as the keynote speaker is very questionable!
This New York Times article speaks to some of the issues that both sides might have trouble with.

[sylvia martinez]

Roy Romer may be a "good guy" but he wasn't very effective as LAUSD superintendent.

But Ed in 08 is a wolf in sheep's clothing, cynical attempt get a business agenda into schools without having to actually run for school boards.

Non-partisan, "sound education" - all meaningless.

Doug has found the sources that document their plan - schools as workforce factories, teachers as cogs, students as products.

[Doug Johnson]

I wonder too if this will be a "traditional" conference where all the information sort of flows downhill. I think many of us are getting accustomed to more give and take in our conferences. Would those attending have the opportunity to influence the organizers???

Thanks for the info.

Doug

[Tim]

I got the same invitation, am an inexpensive Metro ride away from where it's being held, and I'm not going. I found nothing about the sessions being web cast, no indication of wifi being available in the room, and only one working educator on the agenda. This sounds like one more meaningless political event in a town filled with them.

And I certainly don't want to listen to Newt Gingrich while I'm trying to eat. :-)

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Tim,

Actually, I don't want to LOOK at Newt while I eat either.

You suppose they will miss us?

Doug

[Steve Dembo]

Was thinking about going since I'll be in Silver Spring the day before for a trip. But after reading this, I can think of better ways to spend my time. Thanks for the heads up!

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Steve,

I haven't heard from anyone I know who is going to this. Glad it was helpful.

Off to reply to YOUR blog!

All the best,

Doug