Kevin Bushweller (Moderator):
Welcome to today’s online chat with Chris Whittle, the chief executive officer of Edison Schools Inc., and the author of a new book, Crash Course: Imagining a Better Future for Public Education. We are discussing Mr. Whittle’s ideas for improving public education.
We’re getting lots of questions already, so let’s get the discussion started …
Question from Marty Solomon, Fayette County Public Schools, Ky:
What are the two or three most important lessons (or surprises) that you have learned through your involvement with Edison Schools?
Chris Whittle:
First, to my great surprise, student achievement in our schools is not the key thing that is on the mind of many observers. Too often, political ramifications rule decision making around schools. We were naive, at least in the early days, in this regard. Second, many believe that America has already discovered all there is to know about schooling.
Read the rest of the transcript, here.