History of Conflict in D.C. School Reform

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THERE'S LOTS OF BLAME to go around when you're talking about the past failures of D.C. public schools reform. On Sunday, The Post started an in-depth series on the problems facing the city's schools, just as D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty centralizes control of running and fixing the system from the Wilson Building.

In today's installment, The Post's April Witt dives into the history of school reform over the decades, saying that the "constant churn of reform has been a big part of the schools' troubles, according to school officials, community activists and others who have watched the system for decades."

One of the starkest conflicts between Congress, the District government and school reformers came in 1997. The superintendent at the time was retired Army Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton Jr., who had been recently appointed by Congress. The mayor was Marion Barry, who was re-elected after serving a jail sentence for a drug conviction, a development that irked many on Capitol Hill, including Rep. Charles Taylor, a Republican, who controlled the D.C. appropriations subcommittee.

As Witt details, Becton was hoping to get $36 million in supplemental funding that was needed for roof repairs at more than 60 schools. Taylor wasn't having it: "I'm not going to give you a goddamned thing until you get rid of that mayor," he said.

There's no word what Taylor thinks of Fenty, not that it matters — he was ousted during the Democratic sweep of Congress last year. Barry, of course, has gone on to join the D.C. Council.

» "Fixing D.C.'s Schools" [WaPo]
» "Worn Down by Waves of Change" [WaPo]