"Debate" at the NYT

It would be sad if it weren't so funny (or, is it the other way around?)  The Times has, as part of its "Room for Debate" series, a "debate" up called "Why Blame the Teachers?"  So far as I could tell, the "debaters" consisted of seven people with pretty much the same view, and one somewhat milque-toast-y dissenter. 

Sheesh.  I mean, I'm a strong supporter of reforming education policy (which means, among other things, that I am deeply concerned about the excessive power and misguided positions of the teacher-unions), but I'm happy to agree that there is "room for debate" on the matter.  Note to the good people at the Times:  Debate, like diversity, requires differences.