Blogger Summit Wrap-Up

The  Annual Ed Bloggers Summit?:  For me at least it was great to meet so many bloggers whose work I'd read over the years.  I'd never been to an online journalism or blogging conference, and I don't think there has ever been one focused on education issues before.  It would be great if such a thing happened again in the future, with a broader set of characters. Hint, hint.

What About NCLB?  Everyone seems to think that 2009 will be about building momentum and agenda-setting rather than concrete legislatie work, with the possible exception of early childhood education.  Let the governors and others take the lead for a little while.  Develop some new approaches and fresh messages to build up a modicum of political will.  Let things cool off around NCLB a little.  But I think it’s going to be hard for a new President and a new Congress to keep their hands off such a juicy target for long.

Learning (Too Little) From The Big Boys:  The panel of mostly mainstream political bloggers (Politico, Washington Post, National Review) was the most disappointing session.  Too much c.2005 hand-waving about blogging vs. journalism, problogging vs. amateurs, and print vs. online.  Not enough (any, really) about about, er, education politics from these folks who are covering the campaign.  What a missed opportunity -- especially since it was such a good "get" to have the mainstream political folks there. 

Notes and Ideas: Everyone loved Okun's cowboy-style suit and belt buckle. Teacher bloggers in general were a big hit -- Will, Ken, Kilian, Dan.  No one who attended actually won the best blog award.  If and when the campaign is over, EdWeek’s Michele McNeil should keep blogging – she likes it and she’s good at it. The 2MM folks are working on an interesting new doc.

Education In '08?:   So far, at leaset, EDIN08's successes include finding and hiring the indefatigable politico-wonk Roy Romer to spearhead things, partnering with 2MM to give drama and narrative to the competitiveness issue, and pulling out most if not all the stops to get attention from the campaigns and the media.  But of course, getting attention hasn't been easy or frequent, it has to be said.  Trying to push education but sidestep NCLB has been awkward and limiting. 

Gearing Up For the General:  EDIN08 has to think about retooling and adjusting its strategies going into the general, just like the campaigns.  Expectations are high.  It'll take more than "I will steal your car," 2MM,  and a slew of events and some press coverage to be considered a success. We need Harry & Louise here, folks -- and to stop dancing around the NCLB issue. So far, at least, I'm not sure that EDINO8 has been mean and muscular enough.

Comments

[Sherman Dorn]

How about if a "next time" summit be held when people can actually make it, not on a Thursday when most K-12 teachers are in the home stretch of the academic year? Do you know if any of the K-12 teachers invited had their travel expenses paid? (Given the $60 million...)

[john thompson]

I've got to second

Sherman's comment. An education summit when teachers can't attend?

Has anyone thought about financial help for public school teachers to attend?

Since I read on a blog about teachers being the "hicks of the professional world," I'm tempted to quote it. But you guys could learn something from us backcountry boys and girls.

[Meg Fitzpatrick]

Yea, but what about performance pay?

[meg fitzpatrick]

Yea, but what about performance pay?