Charter Leader, Fired for Cheating, Gets $245,000 Settlement
The Los Angeles Times reports an amazing story.
A leader of a charter chain in Los Angeles was fired after teachers complained that they were ordered to cheat so test scores would rise.
The L.A. school board closed the chain of six schools.
A leader of a charter chain in Los Angeles was fired after teachers complained that they were ordered to cheat so test scores would rise.
The L.A. school board closed the chain of six schools.
Shocking: Common Sense in Iowa
The Des Moines Register published an important and wise editorial. It shows that someone in the mainstream press is still thoughtful and wise.
It seems that Governor Terry Branstad wants to see a much healthier Iowa. So he is urging people to lead healthier lifestyles.
It seems that Governor Terry Branstad wants to see a much healthier Iowa. So he is urging people to lead healthier lifestyles.
Test Scores Drop in Pittsburgh, But Why? UPDATE!
Test scores dipped in Pittsburgh for the first time in five years, and the graduation rate is flat.
Here are some possible reasons.
Budget cuts.
Teacher layoffs.
Budget cuts and layoffs mean larger class sizes.
Schools will be closed, and teachers are uncertain about where they will be assigned.
Here are some possible reasons.
Budget cuts.
Teacher layoffs.
Budget cuts and layoffs mean larger class sizes.
Schools will be closed, and teachers are uncertain about where they will be assigned.
This is the Point of Test Prep: Not to Think
A reader realizes something important:
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The Most Important Book for Our Age
Reader Duane Swacker reminds me to tell you that the most important book for our age was written fifty years ago.
It is Raymond Callahan’s Education and the Cult of Efficiency. It was published in 1962.
It may be hard to find. Get it from the library.
It describes the “efficiency movement” of the early twentieth century, when administrators developed check lists
It is Raymond Callahan’s Education and the Cult of Efficiency. It was published in 1962.
It may be hard to find. Get it from the library.
It describes the “efficiency movement” of the early twentieth century, when administrators developed check lists
Another Chance to Sell Stuff
A very interesting report by Maureen Downey on her blog in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about a school in Washington D.C. that will try to raise its low test scores–fast–by turning the kids over to online instruction for half the day. The discussion about the glories of online learning was marred by technical glitches and miscommunication, but no matter.
The best line in the story came from a D.C. public school teacher who knows the school in question well and
The best line in the story came from a D.C. public school teacher who knows the school in question well and
Will Fitzhugh Believes in Student Accountability
Will Fitzhugh created a publication called The Concord Review many years ago. It publishes excellent student historical research. If you read these history papers, you would think that some of them had been written by scholars with many degrees. It is amazing the quality of work that students can write when they have the motive and the opportunity.
Over the years, Will has written often about the importance of encouraging students to work hard and to take
Over the years, Will has written often about the importance of encouraging students to work hard and to take
Grassroots Effort in Chicago for Elected Board
After nearly two decades of mayoral control in Chicago, it is clear that it doesn’t improve schools.
The board is appointed by the mayor, and the public has nothing to say about who sits on the board and no way to contest its actions.
As in New York City, mayoral control means that the public has no role in public education
The board is appointed by the mayor, and the public has nothing to say about who sits on the board and no way to contest its actions.
As in New York City, mayoral control means that the public has no role in public education
A World Without Public Schools?
This article was published in 2007. David Gelernter, a brilliant computer scientist at Yale with strong conservative views, asked why we could not have a world without public schools.
Imagine every school run by private entrepreneurs, private managers, religious groups, whoever, whatever.
Or every student with a voucher.
Why have public education at all?
Imagine every school run by private entrepreneurs, private managers, religious groups, whoever, whatever.
Or every student with a voucher.
Why have public education at all?
Rhee Supports Republican Candidates in Florida
I can’t understand Arne Duncan and President Obama’s infatuation with Michelle Rhee.
Rhee says she is raising $1 billion, and we know that she is spending in state after state–to support Republican candidates.
In Wisconsin, a swing state, she gave to Republicans.
She gives to Republicans because they are likeliest to
Rhee says she is raising $1 billion, and we know that she is spending in state after state–to support Republican candidates.
In Wisconsin, a swing state, she gave to Republicans.
She gives to Republicans because they are likeliest to
How NCLB Redefined Teachers
From an article in Salon (to which I linked yesterday). This is the passage that many people identified as most relevant to their own lives:
“Since 2001, when, for the first time in the history of federal education policy, George Bush’s No Child Left Behind linked school and teacher assessment — and cash rewards — directly to children’s standardized test performance, teachers have been, too often, nothing more than the getters of the scores. What matters in this calculation isn’t the person in front of the class, what his expertise is, what he thinks, about anything. Teachers
“Since 2001, when, for the first time in the history of federal education policy, George Bush’s No Child Left Behind linked school and teacher assessment — and cash rewards — directly to children’s standardized test performance, teachers have been, too often, nothing more than the getters of the scores. What matters in this calculation isn’t the person in front of the class, what his expertise is, what he thinks, about anything. Teachers
Is It 1984 Yet?
A friend works in the online industry. It’s a job. She sent me a copy of a high school graduation exam. The students learn at home on a computer.
She said the kids can take the exam over if they don’t like their score. Because they take the exam online at home, they can google the answers. Or they can have the book open in front of them.
Bear in mind that the big money in this country is investing millions to put our kids online as much as possible.
She said the kids can take the exam over if they don’t like their score. Because they take the exam online at home, they can google the answers. Or they can have the book open in front of them.
Bear in mind that the big money in this country is investing millions to put our kids online as much as possible.
Yong Zhao on PISA
New York Times columnist Tom Friedman had a column a few days ago saying that PISA would soon make it possible for everyone to compare the scores of their school to schools all over the world. No one will be average anymore! Just being able to take tests and compare scores will drive us all to the top!
After I read this with a sinking sensation, thinking of the whole world competing to get better test scores (why?),
After I read this with a sinking sensation, thinking of the whole world competing to get better test scores (why?),
The Inside Scoop on the Texas Miracle
Hey, I’m a historian and it’s my job to have a long memory, but I know that many people don’t remember how the whole nation got stuck with this crazy No Child Left Behind law.
Back in 2000, when George W. Bush was running for president, he talked about the Texas miracle. There was a secret formula, he said, and it was really simple: Test every child every year. If scores go up, the school gets honored, maybe even a bonus. And if the scores drop or go flat, the school is humiliated.
How easy. Testing! Accountability! And look what happened, or so he said: The test scores went up, the dropout
Back in 2000, when George W. Bush was running for president, he talked about the Texas miracle. There was a secret formula, he said, and it was really simple: Test every child every year. If scores go up, the school gets honored, maybe even a bonus. And if the scores drop or go flat, the school is humiliated.
How easy. Testing! Accountability! And look what happened, or so he said: The test scores went up, the dropout
Reach Out to Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers understands the danger of destroying public institutions and handing them over to profiteers.
Contact him and urge him to look into the privatization movement in education:
Contact him and urge him to look into the privatization movement in education:
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 8-11-12 #SOSCHAT
Diane Ravitch's blog
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG
Diane Ravitch's blog
