The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

Texas Observer highlights YES Prep

September 29, 2010 by Jeremy Jones

The Texas Observer discusses the upcoming documentary, Waiting for Superman and its impact on education reform in America. Abby Rapoport's article, "Superman versus Teacher Unions" also highlights Oprah's $1 million donation to YES Prep.  

Superman Versus Teachers Unions?

A new film from the director of An Inconvenient Truth is rewarding charter schools and getting one Texas teachers' union upset.

Up until a couple days ago, I thought Oprah Winfrey was almost universally liked. I mean, admittedly I don't really watch her show, but when Houston's YES Prep charter school called to tell me they were receiving one million dollars from the queen of talk shows, I just kind of nodded along. After all, she gave all those people cars—why should I be surprised she's giving a successful charter a million dollars?

Silly me. It turns out Winfrey's gift to YES Prep is part of a much larger effort, to raise awareness on the flaws in American education and promote the documentary Waiting for "Superman". The documentary, which will come out on Friday in selected theaters, follows five students who are trying to avoid impoverished traditional public schools. Oprah's million dollar gifts went to six successful charter schools. All of this is supposed to get Americans fired about about the flaws in our education system.

It's also got some teachers' unions ready to march. READ MORE

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