Throwing money at school reform has a rough history

Educators are quick to forget the past, but the rest of us sometimes have better memories.

A new Gates education grant to the Pittsburgh public school system has the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ‘going back in time’ to discuss a similar, large grant the district got in 1988. That effort just didn’t pan out.

This time, Gates is pushing better teacher training, apparently for working teachers, with a new teachers’ academy and merit pay for teachers who produce. Teachers are unquestionably the key, but it remains to be seen if the Gates-financed implementation of these new ideas in Pittsburgh will overcome calcified enthusiasm of the teaching corps in that city.