Gordon Wilder: Why the Obsession with Test Scores?
Reader Gordon Wilder wonders why we lost sight of the purpose of education: “My view: People have forgotten what real education is about, the search for ultimate values: good, truth, beauty. To value integrity, love etc. It is searching out the best ideas of humanities greatest minds, greatest teachers. It is NOT about passing test scores. When this first came out – the “nation at risk” era, we la
Jersey Jazzman Asks a Good Question
Jersey Jazzman wonders why I have not been invited to appear on any of the national television shows, not only because I represent a challenge to the status quo but because my new book. Published September 17, will appear as #10 on the Néw Uork Times bestseller list next week. The good news is that I received an invitation to appear on the Chris Hayes’ MSNBC show next Friday October 4. Still hop
Corporate Education Reform Is in Big Trouble
When the news gets out that the corporate reformers’ narrative and de line is false, their crusade to turn schooling into a marketplace loses its rationale. Here is a review of “Reign of Error” by columnist/editorial writer Robyn E. Blumner of the Tampa Bay Times. What if our schools aren’t failing? What if Jeb Bush and his minions are wrong? What if the cause of low test scores requires new thin
Jonathan Lovell:Think of This When Critics Rage
Jonathan Lovell noticed that several critics of “Reign of Error” have attacked me, instead of engaging the issues I raise in the book. Jonathan teaches writing at San Jose State. He sent me this couplet, written by Alexander Pope: “Yes, I am proud; I must be proud to see Men, not afraid of God, afraid of me.” After I met him in Berkeley on Saturday night, he wrote as follows: “The Alexander Pope
EduShyster Explains the Murkland Turnaround
At the 2012 Democratic national convention, the governor of Massachusetts raved about the success of a school called Olive Gardens, where the 80% of the staff was fired, and many inexperienced TFA were brought in. EduShyster points out that the Charlotte M. Murkland Elementary School is even more successful, yet there were no shoutouts at the Convention, no trips to the White House, no national pr
Your Sunday Gift: Time to Laugh Out Loud
This is one of the funniest satires of current education thinking that I have read in a long time. It was written by Russ Walsh of Rider University. Russ describes the development of a new assessment program for toddlers, to determine if they are career-and -college ready The acronym for the new program is TIT for TAT. No experts in early childhood education were involved in developing the new as
Dallas Board Will Decide Fate of Superintendent Miles
After an internal investigation raised questions about the actions of Dallas Superintendent Mike Miles, the school board will have a closed meeting on September 30 to decide whether to discipline him. Miles is a graduate of the unaccredited Broad Superintendents Academy. Stay tuned.
Young Poet Brilliantly Slams Ed-Cruelty
This is a stirring, eloquent poem at a slam in Boston, by a young man whose sister teaches new immigrant children. After one year in a new country, they must take standardized tests in English. If they fail, their teachers fail. This is madness. Listen for three minutes and hear his vivid imagery of cruel Federsl policy
A Teacher’s Advice to Governors
Some governors and legislatures look on Teach for America as a way to save money, because most leave after two or three years at the bottom of the salary structure and never collect a pension. This teacher has a suggestion for them: “Governors who feel 1 and 2 year turnover of Teach for America teachers is the way to excellence should resign after 2 years to let someone else take over.”
Jeff Bryant Reviews “Reign of Error”
Jeff Bryant locates Reign of Error within the context of a coming “education spring,” a growing grassroots rebellion against a failing corporate reform movement. Parents, students, educators, and citizens are fighting back and winning, often in unexpected places, like Texas. The mask is falling away from the faux “reform” movement, whose main effect has been to demoralize teachers and impose a reg
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-28-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Do You Need a Laugh Today? Read This.Julian Vasquez Heilig is the most creative blogger I know in terms of his brilliant combination of flashy graphics, research, and informed commentary. Here he describes the century-long battle between the managerial elites—who believe that schools can be improved by data, management, mandates an
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 9-28-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGPhilly Teacher: May 100% of Your Students Score Proficient by 2014!This was written by Raniel Guzman, who is a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia and an adjunct professor at Esperanza College of Eastern University: May 100 % of your students score proficient or above on standardized tests by 2014.