Upcoming event at AEI. Anyone that knows me or has spoken to me understands my commitment and passion for urban issues. The challenge of our nation's public schools is foremost in my heart and political activism. Check out this upcoming event!


BOOK FORUM
Tough Love for Schools:
Essays on Competition, Accountability, and Excellence

Tuesday, January 31, 2006, 9:30–11:00 a.m.
Wohlstetter Conference Center, Twelfth Floor, AEI
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

In K-12 education, it’s difficult to find stakeholders who will declare that poor schools should be closed and ineffective teachers should be fired; that teaching experience is not essential to being a school principal; that schools should be more cost-efficient; or that profit-driven competition might be good for public education. These are the kinds of unconventional ideas that Frederick M. Hess puts forth in his new book, Tough Love for Schools: Essays on Competition, Accountability, and Excellence (AEI Press, January 2006). This volume rejects the notion that loving schools means apologizing for them and argues that “tough love” requires demanding more, not less, of the people and institutions we cherish.

Please join author Frederick Hess as he explores the practical and political challenges of accountability, competition, excellence, and the public good. Joining him in the discussion will be panelists James Donnelly, winner of the 2004 National Principal of the Year award; Jason Kamras, winner of the 2005–2006 National Teacher of the Year award; and Joe Williams, author of Cheating Our Kids: How Politics and Greed Ruin Education (Palgrave MacMillan, 2005).


9:15 a.m.
Registration and Breakfast

9:30
Presentation: FREDERICK M. HESS, AEI

Discussants: JAMES DONNELLY, 2004 National Principal of the Year
JASON KAMRAS, 2005–2006 National Teacher of the Year
JOE WILLIAMS, author of Cheating Our Kids

11:00
Adjournment

_______________________________________________

Please register online at www.aei.org/event1239.

Shortly after the event occurs, a video webcast will be available on the AEI website at www.aei.org/eventvideos.

For more information, please contact Morgan Goatley at 202.828.6031 or mgoatley@aei.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Veronique Rodman at vrodman@aei.org.