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Sunday, February 17, 2013

UPDATE: Student ‘zombies’ protest standardized tests + The problem with our ‘first in the world’ education obsession

The problem with our ‘first in the world’ education obsession:


Student ‘zombies’ protest standardized tests

test2The year-long revolt against high-stakes standardized testing by teachers, parents, principals and superintendents and others is being increasingly fueled by students.
In Providence, R.I., dozens of students decked out to look like zombies staged a rally recently at the State House to protest a requirement, which takes effect with the class of 2014, that students must attain a certain score on the New England Common Assessment Program test to graduate from high school, according to the Providence Journal.



The problem with our ‘first in the world’ education obsession


State_Of_Union_0d03bThough it is well known that the social, emotional and academic health of children are linked, education policy gives short shrift to the first two. Here’s a look at this issue from   Arthur H. Camins, director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education at theStevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.
By Arthur H. Camins
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama framed a challenge for educational improvement:
These initiatives in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and housing will help entrepreneurs and small business owners expand and create new jobs.  But none of it will matter unless we also equip our citizens with the skills and training to fill those jobs ….. Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job.
With the economy still struggling to get out of recession, the career readiness functions of


Which presidents are on your money?