Commentary
Teacher Characteristics and Student Achievement Gains: A Review
Andrew J. Wayne and Peter Youngs, Review of Educational Research Spring 2003, Vol. 73, No. 1, pp. 89-122
Commentary
Historical ignorance, continued
Though the phrase "don't know much about history" is now a clich?, we can't argue with the sentiments of this article in National Journal, which argues that the well-intentioned No Child Left Behind act is perversely marginalizing subjects like history.
Commentary
A National Crisis or Localized Problems? Getting Perspective on the Scope of the Teacher Shortage
Patrick Murphy, Michael DeArmond, and Kacey Guin, Education Policy Analysis ArchivesJuly 2003
Commentary
Charter School Accountability in New York
Carol Ascher et al., Institute for Education and Social Policy2003
Commentary
Engaging Minds: Motivation and Learning in America's Schools
David A. Goslin, The Scarecrow Press, Inc.2003
Commentary
New York, old progressivism
When hizzoner Michael Bloomberg gained control of Gotham's crippled school system, many had high hopes. Perhaps at last New York City would muster the strength to free itself from the establishment monopoly over education reform, curriculum, and pedagogy--and the innumerable underperforming schools it has created.
Commentary
Confidence game in the Hoosier State
On January 8, Indiana became one of five states singled out by the U.S. Department of Education for early approval of its No Child Left Behind accountability plan. These states were depicted as leaders that had set aside excuses and committed themselves to educating all students.
Commentary
Things left unsaid on salaries
The American Federation of Teachers is out with the 2002 edition of its Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends, and this year's report is even cheekier than usual. Acknowledging that, according to the union's own data, "average teacher salaries improved faster than inflation for the fourth time in five years," the authors demand yet more money for teacher pay.
Commentary
What price victory for NCLB?
In June, Gadfly voiced some skepticism when the Department of Education announced with great fanfare that it had approved the NCLB accountability plans of all fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. We noted that the "victory" was at best pyrrhic, since many states cut corners to comply and at least one (Iowa) was approved despite lacking state standards.
Commentary
Who are AP classes for?
A teacher takes Post education columnist Jay Mathews to task for his rankings of America's best public schools, which he bases on the number of students within a school who take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.