Walmart Foundation vs. Walton Foundation
Earlier today when I posted about President Obama’s decision to name the Sylvia Mathews Burwell, CEO of the Walmart Foundation, to become the head of the Office of Management and Budget, I made the error of identifying her as CEO of the Walton Family Foundation. It was obviously a mistake, and readers quickly called my attention to it. I made the change at once. I didn’t realize that the Walton billionaires have two different foundations. In addition, members of the family give a lot of money to political campaigns for candidates and issues, always on the same side of the political spectrum.
The Walton Family Foundation has given $158 million for each of the
The Walton Family Foundation has given $158 million for each of the
Whose Side Are Duncan and Obama On?
Earlier today, I posted about the battle in New Mexico over the confirmation of Hanna Skandera. Skandera wants to import Jeb Bush’s “Florida Model” of testing, school grading, charters, vouchers, and online corporations to New Mexico. She worked for Bush, Spellings, and Schwarzenegger. Her views are identical to those of Romney. Yet as the linked article points out, Skandera was invited to the White a house and warmly praised by Duncan. What gives?
I am reminded that Duncan hailed Bobby Jindal’s choice of John White as state superintendent and lavishly praised him as a “visionary leader.” I am reminded that he was a featured speaker at Jeb Bush’s “summit” last
I am reminded that Duncan hailed Bobby Jindal’s choice of John White as state superintendent and lavishly praised him as a “visionary leader.” I am reminded that he was a featured speaker at Jeb Bush’s “summit” last
CEO of Walmart Foundation Picked for Key Obama Job: UPDATE
Sylvia Matthews Burwell, the head of the Walmart Foundation, has been selected by President Obama to take charge of the Office of Management and Budget.
This is one of the most important policy jobs in the federal government. The director of OMB decides how money should be allocated, which programs should live and which should die. There are often intra-agency battles, but
This is one of the most important policy jobs in the federal government. The director of OMB decides how money should be allocated, which programs should live and which should die. There are often intra-agency battles, but
New York: Educators Have “Initiative Fatigue”
Please this article that appears in the latest issue of the journal of the New York State School Board Association.
It describes how many teachers, principals, and superintendents are feeling overwhelmed by the changes raining down on them.
Then comes these paragraphs:
“John King is on the wrong side of history,” author and blogger Diane Ravitch told On Board. “He is acting like a
It describes how many teachers, principals, and superintendents are feeling overwhelmed by the changes raining down on them.
Then comes these paragraphs:
“John King is on the wrong side of history,” author and blogger Diane Ravitch told On Board. “He is acting like a
Paul Thomas on Mathematica KIPP Study
Paul Thomas is unimpressed by the latest study of KIPP by Mathematica Policy Research.
He firmly rejects the “no excuses” model of schooling, in which students are constantly monitored and disciplined for the smallest infractions. He believes it is classist and racist.
His main point is that the means do not justify the ends. If one’s only goal is higher test scores, they can be produced by coercion. But that is not good education. It old be akin to amputating a limg as a means of weight loss: it works but why would you do it.
Thomas quotes David Whitman, who wrote a book lauding “the new paternalism.” It is called “Sweating the Small
He firmly rejects the “no excuses” model of schooling, in which students are constantly monitored and disciplined for the smallest infractions. He believes it is classist and racist.
His main point is that the means do not justify the ends. If one’s only goal is higher test scores, they can be produced by coercion. But that is not good education. It old be akin to amputating a limg as a means of weight loss: it works but why would you do it.
Thomas quotes David Whitman, who wrote a book lauding “the new paternalism.” It is called “Sweating the Small
Are Standardized Tests Worthless?
In response to my post earlier today about the growing movement against testing–and its misuse for rewards and punishments–Robert D. Shepherd sent the following comment:
“I think that it’s empirically demonstrable that these tests aren’t even valid and reliable as tests of reading, writing, and math abilities, much less of teacher and school performance. What’s next–shall we use the tests to
“I think that it’s empirically demonstrable that these tests aren’t even valid and reliable as tests of reading, writing, and math abilities, much less of teacher and school performance. What’s next–shall we use the tests to
Deborah Meier on Standardized Testing
Deborah Meier responded to an earlier post about the growing movement against testing.
I said that testing is misused now, as a way to punish (or reward) students, teachers, principals, and schools.
Deborah says that standardized testing is in itself problematic, for all the reasons she gives here:
Standardized testing was not intended to serve all its many misused purposes.
But even as a measure of an individual student it has enormous imitations. The score is “accurate” only within a very broad range==a so-called year on or off, and in 1/3 of the cases wider than that. That’s its statistical range of reliability.
However, since it only covers a certain percentage of the skills and aptitudes involved in reading or math it may
I said that testing is misused now, as a way to punish (or reward) students, teachers, principals, and schools.
Deborah says that standardized testing is in itself problematic, for all the reasons she gives here:
Standardized testing was not intended to serve all its many misused purposes.
But even as a measure of an individual student it has enormous imitations. The score is “accurate” only within a very broad range==a so-called year on or off, and in 1/3 of the cases wider than that. That’s its statistical range of reliability.
However, since it only covers a certain percentage of the skills and aptitudes involved in reading or math it may
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 3-4-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Why Does the National Media Ignore School Closings? by dianerav Bruce A. Dixon of Black Agenda Report asks a simple question: Why does the national media ignore mass closings of public schools? He says that if the national media gave as much attention to the school closings as it did to the privatization propaganda films “Waiting for Superman” and the “Won’t Back Down,” the public would be informed and outraged. Frankly, the idea of blaming schools for low test... more »