Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Argument, And The Response

Jersey Jazzman: The Reformy Argument, And The Response:

The Reformy Argument, And The Response

by Duke

Watching Michelle Rhee once again on Real Time with Bill Maher, it becomes clear what the reformy argument all boils down to:

1. There is a shameful "gap" in performance between affluent white students and poor minority students.
2. But even our affluent white students suck compared to the rest of the world.
3. The problem, then, must be in our schools.
4. While there may be other factors involved, we really can't wait to fix those; we need immediate action, and we can take that by "reforming" schools.
5. These "reforms" will create innovation and accountability, which is what has been missing from the public school "blob."
6. These reforms - charter expansion, test-based teacher evaluation, vouchers, de-unionization, gutting tenure, merit pay, ending seniority - will raise student achievement.

The answer to these, in turn, is:

1. No one argues that the lower performance of poor minority students is shameful and must be fixed. But in every country in the world, the poor have worse educational outcomes than the rich. Doesn't that tell you something?
2. Affluent white students in America actually perform well in international comparisons. The few "studies"