Michael Winerip’s published published his last education column for the New York Times today. He’s been one of the most powerful advocates for teachers in mainstream media, and I’m sorry to see him go. Be sure to read the whole column, as it is both a lovely reflection on his last four years as an edu-columnist and a final attempt to inject some sanity into the NCLB debate.

Here’s a sample:

As readers know, I’m not a fan of No Child Left Behind, the 2002 federal law aimed at raising education quality. Instead of helping teachers, for me it’s a law created by politicians who distrust teachers. Because teachers’ judgment and standards are supposedly not reliable, the law substitutes a battery of state tests that are supposed to tell the real truth about children’s academic progress.

The question is: How successful can an education law be that makes teachers the enemy?

Great question. Great column. His voice in the debate will be missed.