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Indiana schools chief says he has fences to mend

Associated Press
October 5, 2011
Keywords
Department of Education, Education & Workforce Development, Education reform, K-12, Private schools, Public schools
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Indiana's state schools superintendent says he has fences to mend following his push for sweeping education overhauls that legislators approved this year.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said during a Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce forum on Tuesday that he understands the changes he has advocated make many teachers and other uncomfortable.

Bennett says it is unfortunate that many great teachers and schools have felt lumped in with what he called "chronic underperformers," The Herald-Times reported.

Hundreds of teachers attended Statehouse protests this year before the Republican-led Legislature approved the nation's most sweeping private-school voucher program, a plan aimed at expanding charter schools and a law limiting teacher contracts to only salaries and benefits.

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  • send him packing
    BilgewaterOctober 10, 2011 7:15 PM
    Exactly right. Dr. Bennett blamed ALL teachers for the shortcomings of schools. Instead of his sweeping reforms, he could've had teachers allied with him if he'd tackled a few major problems instead of trying to reform the whole system.
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  • too late to mend
    BilgewaterOctober 10, 2011 7:12 PM
    When he heard the comment about Dr. Bennett wanting to mend fences, the president of the South Bend teachers association had a lovely rejoinder: "He doesn't have enough wire."
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  • agree
    kathomOctober 5, 2011 10:32 PM
    Maybe Bennett wouldn't have to "mend fences" if hadn't spent all of the last legislative session demonizing public school teachers and administrators.
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    • Resign
      JimOctober 5, 2011 6:56 PM
      since bennet's problems stem from pure political politicing the solution to his problem should also be pure politics. Withdraw his imposed political stand and resign.
      Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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