The leader of the Buffalo Teachers Federation says he is not disappointed to see State Education Commissioner leave his post. WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley talked to BTF President Phil Rumore about John King's departure at the end of the month.
Rumore bluntly voiced he's feelings about the state's top education leader as he sat at his desk at his BTF office in Buffalo.
"He'll be going to work in an administration Arne Duncan that knows just about nothing about education like he does, so he will fit right in," stated Rumore.
In the New Year, King will become a senior advisor in the U.S. Education Department. King created great deal of controversy over the past couple of years among school teachers by implementing the Common Core and requiring more standardized testing for students.
Rumore weighs in on the requirements needed for a next leader of the State Education Department.
"The new commissioner needs to be somebody that's been in the classroom, been an administrator, especially in an inner city," said Rumore. "What's wrong with having somebody that has actually been there, knows what the students need, knows what the teachers need."
Rumore noted that education in America has declined as government continues to become more involved passing laws. The long-time and often controversial union leader looks back at what has caused deterioration of the Buffalo Public School District.
"During the desegregation or integration, we had people coming from all over the world come to our schools. That's when we had all shorts of resources, there was extra money coming in," said Rumore.
Rumore said federal study about five years ago concluded the district was worse in the nation for disparity between affluent districts and poor districts.
