Tony Bennett Education Scandal
Amidst the popular media's love for scandals, there is one in particular that hasn't made much news today. That is Tony Bennett, the now former Florida Education Chief resigned, and the controversy for changing how schools were evaluated by the state of Indiana. The grading formula was changed in order to improve the score of a particular school, Christel House Academy, which has the backing of influential Republican donors including the donor it was named after Christel DeHaan; it was changed from a C to an A affecting how the funding the school is to receive.
He has declined any wrong doing and says that the changes to the grading system was just. Though emails released by the AP contradict that: "They need to understand that anything less than an A for Christel House compromises all of our accountability work"/"This will be a HUGE problem for us."/"I am more than a little miffed about this. I hope we come to the meeting today with solutions and not excuses and/or explanations for me to wiggle myself out of the repeated lies I have told over the past six months."
Mr. Bennett is well known for being an significant figure for educational reform. Yet he wasn't re-elected to his former education position in Indiana even after outspending his Democratic opponent, Glenda Ritz, with some of the funds coming from Mayor Michael Bloomberg's super PAC; keep in mind this before the grading scandal was exposed.
After losing his title in Indiana, he became Florida's Education Commissioner which has the fourth most populous state (compared to Indiana's sixteenth highest); mostly because of the superb reputation he built in the national education reform.
The Republican, Bennett, is a strong advocate for the Common Core and national standards in education which is, ironically, very much a Democratic position; this is one of the explanations for his failed reelection. He did accomplish change while in term in Indiana and I admire that. But in that position, he was held to a standard to be nonpartisan and ethical which he did not look to be. Even if it was for the best for the Indiana school system, he has created conflicting statements and has lost much respect and trust from the public. Now, he has created a distraction and has probably slowed down the pace of education reform. This comes in addition to questions about the validity of the school grades given to Florida schools in which he reformed. We all lose in this situation especially the education for future generations (which in turn affects everyone's future).
This incident, while unfortunately not the only, can be a provide a lesson that we can learn. Naturally there will be a relationship between government and education but we can't let political relationships and money affect education is provided; it must be done nonpartisan, respectfully, and honorably. This will allow the greatest opportunity for future generations.