An email from a friend in Newark:

 

Just want to let you know we received a "President's Report" from the Newark Teachers Union today describing in great detail "how they support decision making based on data", etc.  What struck me is how they have been put on the defensive and how they are being forced to at least give lip service to addressing the real issues, as opposed to how, in the past, they were given a completely free ride without having to make any explanations or excuses!  Educational choice  is creating competition for them; they have to respond and the mere existence of educational choice cannot help but improve the schools.