WOW! WOW! WOW! Los Angeles Times Education Editorial Writer Opts Out Her Daughter!
Karen Klein, who writes editorials for the Los Angeles Times about education (and other topics), told her 16-year-old daughter she could opt out. Like many other parents, Klein reached the breaking point where the tests didn’t make sense any more. After years of complying with the testing regime, she realized that this test was pointless. She even envied home-schoolers, who could take their child
Can Creativity Be Measured?
The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who think that the world can be divided into two kinds of people and those who don’t. No, let me try that again: those who think that everything that matters can be measured, and those who think that what matters most cannot be measured. Count me in the latter group. What matters most is love, friendship, family, imagination, joy….I see no reaso
How is Common Core Like a Drone Warship? Susan Ohanian Knows
Here is a chance to send readers to two very important blogs. Jonathan Pelto reprints Susan Ohanian’s post comparing the Common Core to a $5 billion fully automated warship. Ohanian sees the writing on the wall. She fears that the full package, once deployed, will strip teachers of any autonomy or professionalism. She notes the many professional organizations, including the unions, that have take
At Least 33,000 Students Opted Out of State Tests in New York State
Preliminary figures indicate that at least 33,000 students opted out of state tests in New York. This is a huge increase from last year, when only a few hundred students refused to take the tests. Given the growing criticism of the tests, which many teachers and principals say were “terrible” or developmentally inappropriate, the opt put movement will continue to grow. It is an awful burden to pla
Practice, Practice, Practice!
You may recall that when I went to AERA and shared a session with the wonderful, dynamic Helen Gym, she managed to pick her way carefully through the crowd that lined the wall of the room, while I managed to trip over someone’s foot and fell flat on my face. No harm done, the room was carpeted, and I landed gracefully in such a fashion that I was unhurt, indeed bounced up and proceeded to the podi
Parent in Nebraska: We Love Our School and State, But We Love Our Children More!
Jill Osler, a parent in Nebraska, wrote the following statement: Parents Can Take a Stand Against Testing Almost one year ago, I wrote an editorial stating my belief that high-stakes standardized testing is not necessary for, and even detrimental to learning. Teachers feel pressure to spend large amounts of instructional time preparing students for Ne-SA tests—which robs students of authentic le
VAMboozled: Everything You Want to Know about VAM Research
I asked Audrey Amrein-Beardsley to compile a list of the most important VAM research. Here are her recommendations for the top 13 research articles about Value-Added Measurement: Amrein-Beardsley, A. (2008). Methodological concerns about the Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS). Educational Researcher, 37(2), 65-75. doi: 10.3102/0013189X08316420. Amrein-Beardsley, A., & Collins,
Helen Gym: What It Means to be a Champion of Change
I previously commended Helen Gym for her activism as a parent advocate for public education in Philadelphia. She is on the honor roll as a hero and an exemplar. And, boy, Philadelphia needs her now! Philadelphia is Ground Zero for the fake reform movement. The fake reformers are well on their way to obliterating public education in that great American city and proud of it. With all the wealth and
EduShyster: “Fishin’ 4 Schools” Is For Sale
Jon Hage cashed in on the charter industry in a big way. And where else but Florida, where for-profit schools are welcome no matter what their quality. EduShyster tells the story here of Jon Hage, a non-educator who is one of Florida’s most successful charter entrepreneurs. “Have you ever encountered a story so sadly tragic that you were forced to break your own rule regarding pre-noon winebox d
exas Superintendent Asks for Help in Stopping Failed VAM
This superintendent posted a request for help. I will be posting a summary of research on value-added-measurement later today. I think it is fair to say that while economists like VAM (they measure productivity), education researchers overwhelmingly oppose VAM because they know that most of the factors affecting test scores are beyond the control of the teacher. I am a Superintendent in Texas
Update on United Opt Out Website
You may recall that the website of United Opt Out was hacked and taken down on the first day of state testing. It provides information to parents in every state on how to opt out. Here is the latest: Diane, I posted a fundraising account for the new website online this past Sunday. By the time I got home from work on Monday/yesterday we had raised the full amount – see here :) http://www.gofundme
Teacher: The Joy of Teaching Is Gone
A teacher in Syracuse writes, in response to comments by another teacher: Teaching has lost its joy and spontaneity. It has become “all work and no play, which makes Johnny a very dull boy.” (that goes for teachers too)! At least one third of the teachers in my elementary school are now looking for work outside the profession. My kinder class is doing literacy curriculum with imaginative play comp
Williams and Kilfoyle: Reformers, We Will Not Let You Steal Our Children, Our Schools, Our Democracy
Dr.Yohuru Williams and Maria Kilfoyle, NBCT, have a message for the corporate reformers: We will never surrender. They write: “Public education… is the cornerstone of democracy. It helps students acquire civic knowledge so that they can become participants in their democracy. It also requires students and communities to reflect on a continuous basis, through school board meetings, referendums an
MARCH for Public Schools This Thursday: NYC, 4 PM
Dear Public Education Supporter: The CEC/Citywide Working Group is a coalition of elected District and Citywide Education Councils across New York City. We – along with numerous other public school parent and pro public education groups including the Alliance for Quality Education, New York Communities for Change, Change the Stakes, Parent Voices and many others – will be convening a rally on the
Yong Zhao: PISA and Illusory Models of Excellence
Yong Zhao, who was born and educated in China, is a sharp critic of standardized testing. This article is the third in a series in which he criticizes PISA for misleading the world and promoting standardization and uniformity. In this article, he reviews the many critiques of PISA by testing expert in other actions. He writes: “From the start, the entire PISA enterprise has been designed to cap
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-7-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Hoover, Alabama: “I Just Want to Teach”I encountered this article on Twitter, and a reader was kind enough to forward it in the comments section. http://ow.ly/vcl92 I Just Want to Teach…..Not Give Useless Tests: The Current Plight of Alabama’s Hoover City School Teachers Part One: Changes in the Elementary Program by Deborah G.