Paul Thomas Offers Writing Lessons to Rick Hess
Paul Thomas has an incredibly wide-ranging intellect. In this article, he takes pundit-blogger Rick Hess to task for his sloppy effort to put down books he does not agree with, namely, my new book and those of David Cohen and Chris Lubienski and Sarah Lubienski. Hess has decided we are opposed to reform because we have actual evidence-based solutions, as opposed to his belief in the magic of the m
Peter Goodman: Will Cuomo’s “Death penalty for Schools” Derail His Ambitions?
Governor Andrew Cuomo has an unfortunate habit of spouting off about education, a subject where he is woefully uninformed. When New York won a Race to the Top grant, the original proposal called for a 20% cap on test scores as part of teachers’ evaluations. Cuomo insisted, after the deal was struck, that it had to be 40%. If he knew anything about research on teaching, he would have said 20% was t
Are TFA and TNTP Teachers Better than Traditional Teachers?
This question comes up again and again, and different studies reach different conclusions. Typically, TFA teachers get better than usual results in math, but not in reading, which is less susceptible to test prep and more influenced by home life. Mathematica Policy Research released a new study today, saying that TFA and TNTP teachers get better results in math than traditionally prepared teacher
A Hero Educator Who Teaches in a Charter School in North Carolina
A regular reader informed me about an amazing charter school teacher in North Carolina. Chris Weaver was selected as “The Best Teacher” by Mountain XPress, a local newspaper, and he rejected the honor. Read here to learn why he rejected it. He is committed to the common good, not to self-interest. He understands that educators must work together towards common goals, not compete. Congratulations,
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-10-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Bruce Baker: Hold Cuomo Accountable for School FailureNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for the “death penalty” for failing schools recently, setting off a war of words between those who believe in closing struggling schools and those who want to kill them and fire the staff. Bruce Baker takes a different view. Here he demonstr
