State education departments will implode under the weight of their own accountability.

In a recent post by Diane Ravitch, I read the following statement. "I'm doing something I thought I would never do--something that will make me a statistic and a caricature of the times. Some will support me, some will shake their heads and smirk condescendingly--and others will try to convince me that I'm part of the problem. Perhaps they're right, but I don't think so. All I know is that I've hit a wall, and in order to preserve my sanity, my family, and the forward movement of our lives, I have no other choice".

And so begins the letter of resignation by Union County Public School (North Carolina) teacher Kris Nielsen. It's a sad commentary about public education today but not one that comes as a surprise. After years of being pushed by regulations and prodded by accountability educators are looking for other options in life. Our present system and the rules being guided by non-education policymakers are causing people to opt out of public education.

At a recent party someone introduced me as a public school principal. To the group of six people holding their red wine it became a time to ask me all the questions ...

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