Watch: Virginia Walden Ford on the Strength of Parent Power
As a single mother of two sons attending Washington, D.C.’s public schools in the 1990s, Virginia Walden Ford should have been at a complete loss at how to improve education for her kids. Instead of remaining helpless, Walden launched the school reform movement in the District — whose school system was once considered the Superfund Site of education — by taking to the streets, lobbying Congress and fighting for charter schools and voucher programs. The results of her work can still be seen today, as D.C. has become one of the foremost centers for charter schools, and in the efforts by Michelle Rhee to overhaul D.C. Public Schools. Ford showed how even one parent can build a movement to improve education, both for their child and for all children.
Watch this excerpt from a Bluegrass Institute presentation, listen to this week’s Dropout Nation Podcast (and an earlier podcast on building parent power), and consider what you would do for your own child. Then take action for all children.
TFT
551 days ago
Nice article, except for the fact that DC is in worse shape than before the charter schools and voucher programs. You didn’t mention that.
Aside from forgetting to mention that the result of her “launch” was and is, disastrous, I suppose this piece is accurate!
I think what Ford actually showed was how people can be used and abused by oligarchs.
And your touting of same shows how some people are easily gamed.
RiShawn Biddle
551 days ago
I’d thank you for commenting, but you offer nothing substantive for which to thank. If you’re going to offer ad hominems, please offer something substantive such as evidence, numbers. Please try. Or don’t bother. Thanks.