The Christian Science Monitor Responds

A few weeks ago I wrote about how the CSM's once-vaunted education coverage seemed to have dwindled to a shadow of its former self, in part because of the departure to another beat of Gail Russel Chaddock (CSM's Disappearing Education Coverage). Today, features editor Owen Thomas (or someone claiming to be him) posted this response:

"Ouch. It’s true that, like many newspapers, the Monitor is adjusting to staff cutbacks – most notably in the past two years. But we are still committed to wide-ranging, in-depth reporting on education issues, a national beat in which the Monitor has had a pioneering role and significant success over the years. We haven't given up. Education is part of our heritage. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the occasional lighter piece – who can’t relate to P.E.?– but we’ve had many other, more substantial pieces as well in the past few months. Our 2005 series on student populations overlooked by the “No Child Left Behind” initiative was honored by the Casey Journalism Center on Children and Families, and we’re in the midst of an ongoing series on schools and programs that are effectively closing achievement gaps. Take a look here, here, and here. And keep the faith! Watch for our update later this month on how New Orleans is trying to put its school system back together.If you have comments or suggestions, please get in touch here or via our website: www.csmonitor.com."