Comments on: Vince Gray is best choice for mayor

By: Trulee Pist

Trulee Pist — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:03:30 +0000

Who is Sharon Pratt Dixon? Who is Marion Barry? They are not on the ballot.

I see Gray and Fenty, and I know which one has a good vision for the next four years and beyond, and which one does not have a clue about the future.

You endorsed the right guy.

By: Mistr Knucklz

Mistr Knucklz — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:33:20 +0000

Electing Vincent Gray as mayor would be a giant step backward for the city. This is a man who was part of the failed administration of Sharon Pratt Dixon. He has no vision for the city, no ideas to move us forward, no plan to make the city a better place to live. At best, he is a kinder, gentler (perhaps more honest) version of Marion Barry, someone who panders to the entrenched “leaders” in Wards 7 and 8. Fenty isn’t perfect, but the city has definitely improved on his watch, and he deserves another four years.

By: efavorite

efavorite — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:16:13 +0000

Good choice, Peter. Now, when you campaign for Gray, assuming that you will, please don’t repeat the misleading comment you made in your article about your reasons for not supporting Fenty. You said, “Children’s test scores are beginning to improve.” The truth is that DCPS student achievement scores have been improving for over a decade, under three mayors and six superintendents. This is a well documented, but rarely mentioned fact.

Here is the evidence, with a link to the office NAEP data (National Assessment of Educational Progress]. Please check it out for yourself and please make sure you mention this when discussing educational issues with DC voters. Mayor Fenty and Chancellor Rhee do not own rising academic achievement in DC and should not be misrepresented as if they do.

Source: http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/ (then click on “District of Columbia”)

DC NAEP MATH SCORES
4th grade Math
1996 – 187
2000 – 192
2003 – 205
2005 – 211
2007 – 214
2009 – 219

8th grade Math
1996 – 233
2000 – 235
2003 – 243
2005 – 245
2007 – 248
2009 – 254

DC NAEP READING SCORES
[reading scores dipped a little between ‘02-’03 (4th grade) and ’02-’05 (8th grade) but rebounded and improved before Rhee arrived in July ’07. The tests were taken in the spring of ’07.]

4th grade Reading
1998 – 179
2002 – 191
2003 – 188
2005 – 191
2007 – 197
2009 – 202

8th Grade reading
1998 – 236
2002 – 240
2003 – 239
2005 – 238
2007 – 241
2009 – 242