Larry Cuban reminds us that data-driven instruction has been tried before, under the name of "measurement instruction" -- without much success. Cuban then criticizes "reformers" for "rationality on steroids," a hyper-technocratic way of looking at things which fails to take emotions into account. "Emotions, however, are what get practitioners, not policymakers, over the inevitable potholes on the road to reform success." Cuban also cites research by the IES What Works Clearinghouse which explains why the new silver bullet is not likely to be more successful than the old ones.
