When tough-talking Barbara Sizemore agreed to become the new superintendent of schools in Washington, D.C., in 1973, she made sure that her contract provided for a public hearing before she could be dismissed. She was remarkably foresighted. Two years ago, school board members praised the District's first black woman superintendent as "brilliant," "creative" and "charismatic." Now the board says she is "combative," "volatile" and "hostile," and has voted to fire her. Sizemore's hearing is scheduled to start next week, and it promises to be as tense and noisy as any debate in the...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
