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Joel Klein Says Cathie Black Criticism is 'Misguided'

By DNAinfo Staff on November 24, 2010 2:01pm

Outgoing New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said that critic's of Black's experience are
Outgoing New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said that critic's of Black's experience are "misguided."
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Mark Von Holden/Getty Images

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Outgoing schools Chancellor Joel Klein said the focus on Cathie Black's lack of education experience has been "misguided" and dismissed a suggestion that the mayor should appoint a chief academic officer to serve by her side.

Klein made the comments in an interview with WNYC's Brian Lehrer the morning after a state-appointed panel shocked observers by advising State Education Department Commissioner David Steiner to reject Mayor Michael Bloomberg's request to grant Black a waiver, which she needs because she lacks the necessary education credentials.

But Klein said the mayor had his priorities right when he selected a manager and not an educator to head city schools.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced his choice for new Schools Chancellor, Cathie Black, last week.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced his choice for new Schools Chancellor, Cathie Black, last week.
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DNAinfo/Jill Colvin

"I think people are looking at the wrong issue in this," he told Lehrer, adding that the organization's greatest challenges are budget-related, not curriculum-related. "I don't think people understand the challenges our children will face in the 21st century," he said.

Klein himself needed a waiver for the job.

According to Klein, many schools leaders, including U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, would have been barred from serving had education experience been used as the only qualification.

Klein also dismissed a suggestion from Steiner that the mayor appoint a co-chancellor or "chief academic officer" to bolster Black's credentials.

He said the office is already staffed with an "extraordinary team" who will support Black, just as they supported him.

"She will have all the support she needs at every level," Klein said, speaking as though her appointment had already been approved.

He also said it should be up to Black to decide what structure will serve her best.

"I'm not a big believer in trying to micromanage organizations from a distance," he said, but added that he'd leave it up to the mayor to decide whether to accept the co-chancellor plan.

Klein also took the opportunity to respond to charges from the Daily News that he had stepped down because of conflicts with the mayor.

"He said he wants me to stay. He was clear about that," Klein insisted, adding that their relationship "remains solid."

Klein also weighed in on newly announced layoffs and described the current system of using teacher seniority to determine who is let go as "catastrophic."

"I think we need a new, fair system" based on teacher quality, not how long people have been around, he said.

Klein also gave some new hints about his next job, where he'll be working to develop education products for Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

"I don't know why we still feel that textbooks are a meaningful way to be educating our students," he said, adding, "I think I can make an enormous contribution."