When I first read those quotes from Mike Petrilli at the end of Thursday’s NYT, I wondered why he wasn’t talking about national standards. Then I found out that they weren’t the fresh, live quotes, they seemed to be (Mike told me). Instead, they’re taken straight from Petrilli’s essay on the Bush NCLB proposal (Mr. Fix-It).
Which leaves us wondering which of the other quotes used by reporter Diana Jean Schemo (pictured) were canned. Others may not care, but I think it makes a difference.
And, I’ve said it before: reporters, maybe it would be good to find someone who’s actually done a few reauthorizations (and who isn’t just playing at being fair-minded). There are so many folks within easy reach who know more than Petrilli, and who aren’t loathed by the current inhabitants of the USDE for being a turncoat and declaring NCLB a bust in order to promote Fordham’s agenda. Talking to Petrilli about reauthorizing NCLB is like talking to Scooter Libby about Karl Rove and the war in Iraq -- it was an ugly breakup, and it’s only getting worse.