School Struggle Out of an Old Playbook

Now the curtain is rising on new D.C. political theater to be staged at the John Wilson Building. A giddy press corps is lined up to review the actors' performances.

Will Fenty retain top billing? Will he be upstaged by Gray or Bobb? Are there members in the council's supporting cast who might steal the limelight? Keep an eye on three wily characters -- Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and kingmaker-wannabe Jim Graham (D-Ward 1).

It will be a quite a show. But chances of the fight actually benefiting children are about as good as those of the Atlantic Ocean being emptied next week with a teacup.

That's because the focus is on gaining power and control, not on children.

Pushing aside the school board and granting the council line-item control over the school budget, as Fenty proposes, invites lawmakers to micro-manage school spending and operations. Any wonder it was Barry who first proposed that scheme?

Likewise, the appointment of former school board member Victor Reinoso as deputy mayor for education may give Fenty an acolyte close at hand. But Reinoso, in experience, stature and moxie, is no Joel Klein, the sophisticated New York City schools chancellor. Besides, where does this leave Superintendent Clifford Janey?

There's more to education than good test scores. A good education improves one's ability to think and communicate. That kind of education should take place in the classroom and at home. In the District, both areas desperately need strengthening. A plan that does that is worth fighting for. Anything less, and all we have are a bunch of pols thrashing around for control . . . until all the grass is gone.

kingc@washpost.com