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Friday, August 3, 2012

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A Debate about U.K. Education

reader in the U.K. Offers a dissent to a previous post:
I think that the current British Government are seeking to emulate the worst travesties present in the US system. This is largely because emulating the best practice in more successful education systems will cost money and as such is the last thing they are likely to do.
I disagree the free schools and academies freedom from following the National Curriculum is not a move towards standardised testing. What it does is give them licence to not teach subjects that they view as peripheral (arts, Design and Technology, Food Technology, RE etc) which is likely to lead on more focus on the subjects that are EBAC subjects. This is likely to result in more standardisation of the curriculum and a significant narrowing of the curriculum. it also allows them to opt out of certain subjects that require expensive specialist rooms or equipment.
The governments decision that Qualified Teacher Status is not needed is a nonsense that 


Is the Department of Education Over-reaching?

I posted about the Department of Education’s plan to rate the teacher preparation programs in colleges and universities by the test scores of the children taught by their graduates–that’s a stretch, if you think about it. One reader saw the absurdity of it and wondered if others saw it too:
Going after universities – Yowzer! I’ve heard rumors and have periodically seen articles and posts regarding this. I’m past ticked. This is asinine. What is the reasoning? Why should a professor who taught me, be responsible for me and my students? Who thinks dreams and rationalizes this horse mess?
Please, someone, share with me the thought process and decision trees that brought about this policy. This is 



Why Does StudentsFirst Deceive?

A reader posts a particularly egregious example of the deceptive tactics used by StudentsFirst to enroll new members. I long ago reported that Change.org had decided not to allow Michelle Rhee’s organization to lure the unsuspecting into signing a petition that seemingly supports teachers, but actually enrolls them as in an effort to eliminate collective bargaining rights, tenure, seniority, and any form of job protection for experienced teachers. That’s what Change.org said, but it never acted on this new policy. It’s still enabling Rhee’s deceptive recruitment..
Diane, you have informed readers of your blog several times that you inadvertently signed a