Obama administration pushing more charter schools

There's been more government involvement in our lives during the past year than Clark can ever remember. Often it seems that President Obama's whole thrust is about more and more central control on our lives.

Yet there was a recent shocker from the Obama administration that ran completely counter to that assumption.

The feds are now trying to convince states in the clutches of teacher's unions that are hostile to innovation to give charter schools a try. Charter schools are typically beloved by Republicans. But good ideas (or bad ideas) can come from anywhere on the political spectrum.

The Wall Street Journal reports seven states have eliminated the vice grip that choked or outright prevented charter schools in their borders. This is good stuff, according to Clark. More competition from charter schools means better education for our children.

We spend huge money via our tax dollars -- whether you have kids or not -- to pay for a broken public school system. Of course, there are hardworking teachers in every kind of school, including public schools. But Clark believes our Soviet-style of public education has stifled the energy and enthusiasm of some of our best teachers.

He also wishes we had more of a consensus on vouchers. For now, charter schools are a decent halfway point. True, the quality of charter schools runs the gamut. But the marketplace sorts it out and puts the bad ones out of business.

Congrats to the Obama administration for doing something Clark didn't expect. The teacher's unions were a big supporter of the President's when he campaigned against McCain and he didn't think Obama would cross them.