Our Nation's Goofy Education Debate
So here's how it seems to work now:
1) A well-heeled think-tank puts out a report - like, say, the Gates Foundation's Measures of Effective Teaching- that confirms the previously articulated predilections of its funding source.
2) Since the report is published by a think tank funded by a wealthy celebrity, its conclusions are widely disseminated throughout the press.
3) But the report is not subject to peer review, which means it isn't vetted by experts in the field before its conclusions are reported to the public.
4) Several experts quickly review the report and weigh in. Even in their initial and cursory reactions, they find gaping holes in the methods and conclusions of the report. They demonstrate an abuse of mathematics that
1) A well-heeled think-tank puts out a report - like, say, the Gates Foundation's Measures of Effective Teaching- that confirms the previously articulated predilections of its funding source.
2) Since the report is published by a think tank funded by a wealthy celebrity, its conclusions are widely disseminated throughout the press.
3) But the report is not subject to peer review, which means it isn't vetted by experts in the field before its conclusions are reported to the public.
4) Several experts quickly review the report and weigh in. Even in their initial and cursory reactions, they find gaping holes in the methods and conclusions of the report. They demonstrate an abuse of mathematics that