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Filmmaker Spike Lee joined Education Secretary Arne Duncan in issuing a call Monday for more black men to become teachers, making their plea at the country's only all-male historically black college

Duncan said that 82% of the schools were on track to fail this year.

More than 150 public school teachers put their heads together to devise solutions to problems that most affect their profession. Then they got to do something unusual with their conclusions: present them to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

The Washington Post article linked to this provides more details. The suggestions, which seem thoughtful and appropriate, are not fully aligned with Duncan's views and unfortunately he (according to the Post) has not responded.

Race to the Top Winners announced for round 2

Because leading schools out of chronic failure is harder than managing a successful school - often requiring more creative problem-solving abilities and stronger leadership, among other skills - the supply of principals capable of doing the work is tiny.

I loved the comment that people don't grow on trees - I guess that great leadership programs will need to start growing immediately!

One of the suggestion that Duncan made in his remarks is that school boards should be evaluated by means other than just elections.

The author questions Cathie Black new role as NYC chancellor. Raises argument of who is better suited to lead schools based on previous career experiences. Perhaps the most objectionable aspect of the corporate takeover of public education is the implicit assumption that business leaders know what they're doing and the rest of us don't.