Test Mania Tortures Tots in. New York City
If you believe, as I do, that standardized testing is now being misused and overused, you will be shocked to read about New York City’s latest plan to ration admission to programs for gifted 4-year-olds.
If you wanted to satirize the misuse of testing, you would come up with a plan like the one in NYC. Little children will take a test, be rank ordered, and only those who score 90% or higher are sure to win a coveted seat. Sorry, an 89% won’t make it.
When you read the editorial linked here, you may momentarily wonder if you stepped through the looking glass and into the bizarro world of testing gone mad..
Anxious parents are paying for test prep and tutoring for 3-year-olds to get ready for the big test. Children who
If you wanted to satirize the misuse of testing, you would come up with a plan like the one in NYC. Little children will take a test, be rank ordered, and only those who score 90% or higher are sure to win a coveted seat. Sorry, an 89% won’t make it.
When you read the editorial linked here, you may momentarily wonder if you stepped through the looking glass and into the bizarro world of testing gone mad..
Anxious parents are paying for test prep and tutoring for 3-year-olds to get ready for the big test. Children who
If Mr. Rogers Were Secretary of Education
A reader sent this comment in response to an earlier post about Mr. Rogers, the kind and gentle man who had his own television show for children for many years:
I have to believe if Mr. Rogers were in charge of education, Race To The Top would work like this:
“There was a story going around about the Special Olympics. For the hundred-yard dash, there were nine contestants, all of them so-called physically or mentally disabled. All nine of them assembled at the starting line and, at the sound of the gun, they took off. But one little boy didn’t get very far. He stumbled and fell and hurt his knee and began to cry. The other eight children heard the boy crying. They slowed down, turned around, and ran back to him–every one of them ran back to him. The little boy got up, and he and the rest of the runners linked their arms together and joyfully walked to the finish line. They all finished the race at the same time. and when they did, everyone in the stadium stood up and clapped and whistled and cheered for a long, long time. And you know why? Because deep down we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”
― Fred Rogers
I have to believe if Mr. Rogers were in charge of education, Race To The Top would work like this:
“There was a story going around about the Special Olympics. For the hundred-yard dash, there were nine contestants, all of them so-called physically or mentally disabled. All nine of them assembled at the starting line and, at the sound of the gun, they took off. But one little boy didn’t get very far. He stumbled and fell and hurt his knee and began to cry. The other eight children heard the boy crying. They slowed down, turned around, and ran back to him–every one of them ran back to him. The little boy got up, and he and the rest of the runners linked their arms together and joyfully walked to the finish line. They all finished the race at the same time. and when they did, everyone in the stadium stood up and clapped and whistled and cheered for a long, long time. And you know why? Because deep down we know that what matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.”
― Fred Rogers
How The Bloomberg administration Killed a Good School
Murray Bergtraum High School is literally within view of City Hall in New York City. Just cross a busy intersection and there it is.
It used to be a good school with a good reputation. Sitting in the center of New York City’s financial and governmental activity, it prepared young people for business careers.
No longer. The Bloomberg administration has a policy of preferring small high schools and charter schools. It’s policy for large high schools is, at best, benign neglect, but more often, dumping ground.
Bergtraum became a dumping ground for students who couldn’t go anywhere else. In ten years of Bloomberg-
It used to be a good school with a good reputation. Sitting in the center of New York City’s financial and governmental activity, it prepared young people for business careers.
No longer. The Bloomberg administration has a policy of preferring small high schools and charter schools. It’s policy for large high schools is, at best, benign neglect, but more often, dumping ground.
Bergtraum became a dumping ground for students who couldn’t go anywhere else. In ten years of Bloomberg-
Following the Voucher Money in Pennsylvania
Investigative journalists are beginning to follow the money trail that leads to privatization of public education.
Chris Potter of the Pittsburgh City Paper recently published an excellent examination of the lavish spending by a small group of interlocking organizations promoting privatization in Pennsylvania. Some of these organizations popped up overnight to dispense large sums of money to candidates willing to support vouchers.
The story is the same everywhere, it seems. A small number of people who are very rich are trying to buy elections. Their cause is “reform” their goal is privatization.
The journalist who conducts a national investigation might discover that the same 200-300 people are putting up the money in state and local school elections across the nation. They are undermining democracy with their targeted spending.
Chris Potter of the Pittsburgh City Paper recently published an excellent examination of the lavish spending by a small group of interlocking organizations promoting privatization in Pennsylvania. Some of these organizations popped up overnight to dispense large sums of money to candidates willing to support vouchers.
The story is the same everywhere, it seems. A small number of people who are very rich are trying to buy elections. Their cause is “reform” their goal is privatization.
The journalist who conducts a national investigation might discover that the same 200-300 people are putting up the money in state and local school elections across the nation. They are undermining democracy with their targeted spending.
Obama Administration and For-Profit Schooling
If you have been wondering what the Obama administration thinks about the role of for-profit schooling, tune in to C-SPAN today at 10 am for a panel discussion. It will be held at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in DC that is enthusiast about free-market reforms. An ominous sign, if you are dubious about profit-making schools, as I am.
If you miss it because you are working (or flying to a funeral in Houston, as I will be), check the archives of C-SPAN.
Discussion on For-Profit Education 11/26/2012
LIVE Airing Time: 10:00:00 AM – 11:30:00 AM EST
http://www.c-span.org/Events/For-Profit-Enterprises-Role-in-Public-Education/10737435980/
For-Profit Enterprises’ Role in Public Education
Washington, DC
Monday, November 26, 2012
The presidential election results will impact much in K–12 and higher education. Monday, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosts a panel discussion on the role of private enterprise in education.
According to AEI, “Many Democratic policymakers, including those in Obama administration, have stated their support for gainful employment regulations and competitive grant restrictions rooted in concerns about the motives and behavior of for-profit operators.” The panel will consider Obama’s approach as they look to 2013.
Specifically, the participants today spotlight what kinds of policies, regulations and metrics will allow private enterprise to assist students while governing against malfeasance.
Panelists representing federal policy makers and for-profit practitioners join the discussion. The group includes: Stacey Childress, Gates Foundation; Michael B. Horn, Innosight Institute; Jim Shelton, US Department of Education; Raquel Whiting Gilmer, Learn It Systems; and Chris Whittle, Avenues: The World School.
Updated: Wednesday at 1:42pm (ET)
If you miss it because you are working (or flying to a funeral in Houston, as I will be), check the archives of C-SPAN.
Discussion on For-Profit Education 11/26/2012
LIVE Airing Time: 10:00:00 AM – 11:30:00 AM EST
http://www.c-span.org/Events/For-Profit-Enterprises-Role-in-Public-Education/10737435980/
For-Profit Enterprises’ Role in Public Education
Washington, DC
Monday, November 26, 2012
The presidential election results will impact much in K–12 and higher education. Monday, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosts a panel discussion on the role of private enterprise in education.
According to AEI, “Many Democratic policymakers, including those in Obama administration, have stated their support for gainful employment regulations and competitive grant restrictions rooted in concerns about the motives and behavior of for-profit operators.” The panel will consider Obama’s approach as they look to 2013.
Specifically, the participants today spotlight what kinds of policies, regulations and metrics will allow private enterprise to assist students while governing against malfeasance.
Panelists representing federal policy makers and for-profit practitioners join the discussion. The group includes: Stacey Childress, Gates Foundation; Michael B. Horn, Innosight Institute; Jim Shelton, US Department of Education; Raquel Whiting Gilmer, Learn It Systems; and Chris Whittle, Avenues: The World School.
Updated: Wednesday at 1:42pm (ET)
Does Pearson Own American Education?
Pearson is clearly a major force in American education.
It is the dominant provider of testing and textbooks. It owns the GED. It owns Connections Academy, which runs for-profit virtual schools. It owns a teacher evaluation program being marketed to states and districts. It partners with the agates Foundation to develop online curriculum for the Common Core standards.
This article tries to assemble all the pieces. It builds on an earlier article by
It is the dominant provider of testing and textbooks. It owns the GED. It owns Connections Academy, which runs for-profit virtual schools. It owns a teacher evaluation program being marketed to states and districts. It partners with the agates Foundation to develop online curriculum for the Common Core standards.
This article tries to assemble all the pieces. It builds on an earlier article by
Diane in the Evening 11-25-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
