Davis Is Already Trying to Avoid Rocking the Boat

Having listened to both Gov. Gray Davis’ inaugural and State of the State addresses, I can sum up their content in a few words: canoe politics and accountability.

Let me explain.

The most striking sentence in Davis’ inaugural address, for example, came immediately after he declared that “blaming teachers, as some have done, is no solution” for failed schools. He paused for long applause, took a sip of water and began paddling on the other side:

“Yes, there are some deficient teachers and principals out there. Under my administration, either they will get better--or they will be encouraged to find another line of work.”

“All right!” shouted one man behind me, no doubt a lonely Republican. Even former Gov. Pete Wilson--sitting graciously on stage in downtown Memorial Auditorium among harsh critics--joined enthusiastically in the applause.

It was the kind of tough, crisp sound bite--”find another line of work”--that would have seemed more natural coming from the lips of Ronald Reagan. But this came startlingly from a new Democratic governor, who owes his election, in some significant part, to strong backing from teachers unions.

Then Davis abruptly veered in the other direction: “Let’s not forget the tens of thousands of selfless teachers and administrators who struggle often against terrible odds, for too little pay. . . . “ Only to once again return: “There are still too many public schools failing. . . .”

Ah yes, I recalled, canoe politics. Davis’ political mentor, former Gov. Jerry Brown, was the master of what Brown called “the canoe theory of governing: Paddle a little on the left, paddle a little on the right and keep on going right down the middle.”

Davis said it more conventionally in his inaugural and State of the State: “I will govern neither from the right nor from the left, but from the center, propelled not by ideology, but by common sense.”

But it’s still canoe politics.

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Accountability is the new education buzzword, all across the political spectrum. In Davis’ usage: “We must insist upon more responsibility and accountability from everyone involved--students, teachers, parents, administrators and from society itself.

“That will be my primary mission as your governor.”

But when Davis aides leaked an outline of the new governor’s education reform package Tuesday, there was little to suggest any sacking--or even shoving--of inept teachers.

In truth, however, the entire 1 1/2-page leaked summary of $444 million in proposed new education spending was frustratingly short on details. Everybody in Sacramento, it seemed, got the same 1 1/2-page outline, plus a staff briefing. And everybody was confused.

A seasoned Sacramento hand pointed me to the subtle language in Davis’ proposal that--according to this anonymous advisor--could lead to the shoving or sacking of bad teachers. It was a $100-million item--containing only $17 million in new money--”to redesign [a] Mentor Teacher Program to include peer review and ensure results are used in staffing decisions.”

Basically, the present mentor program focuses on beginning teachers. Under Davis’ plan, experienced--but weak--teachers would be tutored by colleagues. If the lousy teachers didn’t improve, the colleagues would grade their performances and send a report card to the principal.

“That’s when the principal might say, ‘You ought to look for another line of work,’ ” said the Davis advisor. “We want to make sure principals have the tools to assist teachers--or change their employment.”

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Davis elaborated in his State of the State address Wednesday evening. He asked legislators for a $42-million program to improve 200 underachieving schools and warned of “serious consequences” for chronic failures. Principals could be fired, he said. Teachers reassigned, charter schools created. . . .

“When an NFL coach has one losing season after another,” Davis noted, “he gets replaced. Period. End of subject. I say we should be just as decisive when our children’s future is at stake.

“Accountability must not be just another buzzword . . . No one gets a free ride.”

Not even you, governor. Especially you. Not even in a Jerry-built canoe.

Davis has staked out education as his “primary mission.” So he has set himself up to be held accountable by California voters for their children’s schooling. In 2002, he could be promoted to a second term--or told to “find another line of work.”