While I am sure Cathie Black is highly intelligent and extremely competent, I think replacing one non-educator with another sends a very powerful message to teachers.

Reformers often face the same set of choices. But consistently ignoring public sentiment is not a viable long-term strategy; we can win a few rounds this way, but the changes we secure won't be lasting.

When you know nothing about education, or more specifically, about what makes good teaching, education reform seems quite simple. Too bad that isn't the case.

The argument that only educators can run education institutions is narrow-minded and parochial, and isn't germane to the Bloomberg-Black issue.

Every year in New York State, there's an entire week in January devoted to giving Regents exams. Kids can study, prepare, and take tests, or if they're really lucky, get a week off. This year things are different.

From a educator's perspective, the eventuality of Black getting the waiver from the state is a particularly disheartening prospect.

In education, all is politics. But since the kids are watching, the type of politics we play in schools is crucial.