Race To The Top is a Race To The Bottom

All my head just listen to this tax side. Yeah you guys don't stop playing that -- yeah I'm having a bullet for breakfast not allow that Texas actually from me so I'll. Okay kinds of countries on notice enough that we go right to Jim Sturgis by the way from pioneer institute. Now pioneer in Jim have been -- morning. Men wearing and weighing in consistently critical love this pursuit of race to the top money the abandonment what they describe as the abandonment of the Massachusetts flavor. Have education reform going on for a number of years umpteen billion dollars spent on -- in some proven results they say what the heck are we risking all of that draws so Jim Sturgis welcome back W been. You've been writing and blogging about the the news of the water over the last couple of days give us your take on now with things are right now.

They operate now -- I -- ultimate compliment to our people are wondering why a lot how look how could you possibly be critical of winning hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to explain that.

You know exactly look the number the thing is money is good but you know at what cost I mean we're happy -- this -- get the money. We have to keep it in context look leave the federal government borrowed -- money. So they could actually give it to us. We get this state. Spend about nineteen billion dollars with a B every year and education. You know this grand. There we're getting from the federal government is 215 million dollars of borrowed money from -- one time money spread over four years. You do the math but about 33 cents per student the day. That's not a lot of money that's not -- be game changer in what they've given up I think it's with a much higher cost and what they're getting -- in return he'll basically. For this they've given up our -- academic standards. What they've done is over the past couple years they've ditched her accountability system -- have a very good -- assistant for the schools to make sure they're actually implementing reform. That it had gone to the other wayside. And break with a -- tons and tons of strings. On Charter Schools while he lifted the cap on interest school they added lots of strange to make sure. But they can't really shine the way they used to so. This collapse near that is to criticize I think look to -- million dollars and great. But it's a one time money over four years we don't mean compared to nine billion dollars we're spending staying low.

Every year -- the -- at the globe as an editorial today that is about a 180. Degrees away from. Your previous descriptions -- near the assessment you just gave us. The context they talk about the State's stunning success in securing the 250 million dollars. That -- this type legislation that preceded it was supposedly impossible on Beacon Hill because of the special interest that would lineup against it. They talked about the governor of Paul rebel. The representatives incentives were involved minute and then they go -- to say. With the new grants the money will create a statewide data systems to focus attention on the kids who need it most train teachers to upgrade offerings in science and math. Provide funds to attract top notch teachers to the lowest performing schools. The list of exciting new programs is long they talk about the decades long work of continuing to improve public education. But they put it in a very different and much more positive context and you body respond to today's globe editorial.

But I think -- say this what they are deep into a couple things that we would actually agree with controlled the creation of the database force student. In trying to target math and science that's all well and good the problem what that is much of these many of these reforms are unproven Q. Diane Ravitch equity critic and historian. Education reform over the past couple of centuries to learn how. Radio show and ball near the nation's talking about the -- thing. You're kinda creepy. It's kind of create a Massachusetts they've proven model we know what we have done. Works. We know -- has taken us to be the best need the best state in the nation and you know we know that we are now one of the top six countries if you will map and try and what are we are buying when this money or what we've been sold with this money. Is a setup Chicago reform reform -- Arne Duncan tried -- Chicago in the ocean cargo has gotten better. To some extent it's not even close. To what Massachusetts is shown over the last couple of decades so. Yet this glut of new programs you don't speak to the adult and they've always done the whole forget what the real work is which is pitching really high quality stuff. Big kid in classrooms and that's what this standard was all about and people weaker standards and come right now they're. Think one of the -- ahead of this whole organization what they call the council of chiefs stayed. School officers after all the commissioners across -- the country they are the leading. Trade organization pushing for. These new national standards. You remember it well I think we need that whole debate over soft skill will be called partnership Burke who shoot 21 certain sure they could still. That organization the the chief the couple cheap. I had just swallowed up the national organization advocating forceful people. So we have lost. Our ability actually action could define our destiny going for an education they will probably have to swallow up the -- I think that when it comes down to the globe is very. I can get very cheery in the very optimistic about very large federal reform. They're very good shape and I don't have that -- because the federal government US DOE. You tell me wanting -- in the past you know. 25 years. I can't point to a do -- I don't just have.

I don't ask you one other question to which is some of the -- political question which is some of the governor's people and other people are suggests mean they're claiming that you guys are in cahoots with the baker campaign this is this was a highly coordinated political. Thing that you are doing with the baker campaign. How even bigger used to work at the pioneer institute I believe years ago. And so how how do you do they can you address that.

I can't I don't take it seriously what we've been critical of Governor Patrick ever since in his first budget he decided is zero out. The state audit office for schools they have a very weekend -- schools with the exception of getting lots of federal money that's great for them. Look with Kim K till the day that the board of education. Voted. To get rid of our state standards in adopt the national -- we do -- actually put Charlie Baker well we -- I certainly. -- The governor would like to take the right stance and education I'd be very very pleased to do a press release -- him to support among many things can we we didn't agree to repair program we wrote a lot of that would them. And we worked the other leader a lot of -- supporting that I'm happy to support this government governor could have. He -- changed the game here in Massachusetts and education he chose not to be -- with the adoption system.

Jim India -- to follow up on -- I mean I'm sorry on Joe's political question. I'm curious what the response that pioneer is getting over these last several weeks because there has been a consistency to your criticism a gig kind of ringing the bell as loudly and as vigorously as you can't -- and folks. Wake up. Are you folks crazy we have success web masters of our own destiny why we now for putting all of that to Washington. Then what does the -- how is the general public and reacting.

I think we're winning the war I mean take a look at this sort of I would think about these things says. When you have a Lotto. Special interest or read against -- You cannot play the inside the only game you can't play the game of trying to quietly talked to officially get them to turn around. So what we've always decided to do over the past couple years and educational increased all the basic tracing. Of where the government gonna go we should let go and talked to every editorial board let's go to talked to -- of reporters let's go and talk to business leaders. And what what they know what that is and frankly I think that we control what's outside the dome they control the Dominican. Get get federal money but the fact is I think are the response to -- have been very good. But people don't buy that they don't by the speaker a couple reasons come. You -- trying that we want at this stage to address our shortcomings and education and there are many you know if we really want to address. Inner city learning. -- you're reading ability we wanna make sure that we can get team's culture reading yet third grade level by third grade we wanna make a special effort on that we wanna do is hoping he'll unmasked in the early -- make sure that we can actually. Have the best. Students in -- in the world and we should -- that. Every time we wanna do that now we're gonna negotiate with Mississippi and Alabama to do it. Actual thing that killed me about this speaking about they may talk about leadership across the country being gave our. Leadership across the country is part of this 250 million dollar grant.

What -- also be encouraged to hear this text messages we let you go we thank you for joining us. He is a text message from he -- 50 wait hey Tommy -- question for Jim regarding the federal education plan we -- is this federal mining. Coming from anyway they just giving us back our own. Money that's just follow the man I need absolutely Jim -- just from the idea has been our guest always welcome here it's a great topic Deval Patrick. Very proud of what he's achieved Jim just Jim stooges and -- very critical this is about what this this is a video -- big -- this is probably a good governor initially you mean the governor is defending somebody is something and then you have equally opposite sides so you gotta be.

Side coming up next but first I gotta tell you about the Red Sox real life. Very interesting day out the eighth day night at double and a.