Sunday, April 4, 2010

Schools Matter: Not a centrist plan

Schools Matter: Not a centrist plan

Not a centrist plan

Sent to Newsweek, April 3, 2010
Not a centrist plan

To the editor:

Newsweek describes Pres. Obama's education plan as "centrist" ("More big effing deals," April 5, p. 33). Hardly. It is a radical plan, involving far more testing than we have ever seen in the history of American education.

According to the "Blueprint for Reform," released by the Department of Education in March, the new standards will be enforced with new tests which include "interim" tests in addition to those given at the end of year. No Child Left Behind only required reading and math tests. The Blueprint recommends testing in other subjects as