E-Chancellor?

First, there was the YouTube videos of Michelle Rhee at a Democrats for Education Reform event last Fall that had people abuzz because of Rhee's straight talk about her frustrations with the school system.



Now the chancellor has made an appearance on Facebook.

After several episodes of violence at Woodrow Wilson High School, Rhee announced new security policies at the Northwest school. When word spread to the school community about the changes, reaction was swift and immediate, including on Facebook. Wilson senior Alison Grubbs organized a group titled "Writing An email Michelle Rhee AGAIN," complete with pictures of the chancellor and the following description:

"So just when we thought our problems had stopped...apparently Michelle Rhee announced tonight at a PTA meeting that after spring break all students will be required to stay in their second period classes for the entirety of the lunch period. This is obviously ludicrous, and this decision was evidently made without consulting administrators, teachers, or students. I would ask all of you to e-mail her again and explain why this makes no sense. (It is not addressing the real problem of fighting at school, groups would not be able to meet during lunch, students often use lunch as a time to talk to teachers, we are not making good use of the brand new field)"

But the students are doing more than just venting online to each other. According to several postings, some students met with the chancellor last Friday and are proposing some alternatives to her plan. Clearly, they don't seem willing to accept those changes without putting up a fight, whether in person or online.

Theola Labbé