Look at this picture. Donald Bren is almost 80 and yet his face looks like a snare drum with eyes.
Forbes has an interview with Bren — the billionaire chairman of the Irvine Company — on how to fix up K-12 education:
When state funding for Irvine public schools began to diminish some time ago, my Irvine Company colleagues helped me to provide private funding support . . . Additionally, we have developed annual teacher recognition and reward programs that provide financial awards for teachers who demonstrate outstanding results in educating our students.
By making capital available for unfunded programs and providing a balanced curriculum and financial incentives to teachers based on results, Irvine Unified School District continues to rank among the finest educational systems in the nation . . .
The interview goes on in this vein: I, I, I. Me, me, me.
Donald Bren is kidding himself, along with the staff and readers of Forbes. The Irvine Unified School District’s rank among the finest educational systems has nothing to do with money, and very little to do with teachers.
As far as I can tell, it results from two things and two things only: the effort of the students and the support of their families.
My kid was in the Irvine Unified School District from second grade through high school. I’m worn out by the number of people in Irvine who would like to take credit for what happens in the schools, when at best they have no effect at all, and in some cases are actually making the schools worse by impeding the progress of the students.
I have more to say on this subject. Stay tuned . . .
