"Hurricane Wagner" is no hurricane
To the editor:I continue to be both surprised and disappointed by the response ("Hurricane Wagner," February 5, 2009) by some conservatives to my book, The Global Achievement Gap, and their claims that I don't believe in testing, don't value academic content knowledge, and lack skills as a researcher.
But did he score proficient?
At last, veritable proof that test prep pays real-life dividends. Seventeen-year old Geoffrey Stanford approached the Kansas state test just like his teachers told him to: "Every sentence. Every word.
A dandy from Randi
Gadfly tends to give AFT President Randi Weingarten a (deserved) hard time, so when she does something praiseworthy his antennae perk up. So it was this week, when she took a strong stand for national standards in the Washington Post. "[E]very child attending U.S. public schools should be taught to high standards, regardless of where he or she lives," she opined.
A-level tan
The Brits have taken voc ed to new lows. In an effort to encourage teens to sign up for courses more suited to their abilities, education officials have expanded the number of courses that count toward "league tables," i.e. how schools are evaluated and compared.
Dear Saint Nick
Michael J. PetrilliI've been running a bit behind all week (we're getting ready for a MAJOR report release tomorrow...stay tuned) but this weekend's New York Times column by Nicholas
Roberto Rodriguez heads to the White House
Michael J. PetrilliDemocrats for Education Reform appears to be playing a big role staffing the Obama Administration because another one of its picks is getting a key job.
Chats with Checker (and others)
Stafford PalmieriJoin Fordham's Checker Finn, Ed Sector's Tom Toch, and CCSSO's Gene Wilhoit tomorrow at 3 pm for a live online chat of Obama's education plan. The chat is sponsored by Education Week??and coincides with the release of Ed Week's latest book, The Obama Education Plan: An Education Week Guide.
The Accountability Illusion: An interview with Checker
Stafford PalmieriHear Fordham's Checker Finn explain The Accountability Illusion.
Strickland's throw away response
Terry RyanIn the news business, reporters have a saying for a boiler plate quote an editor can remove to tighten a story. It's "throw-away" and that's exactly what the governor's response to the Fordham/Paul Hill study deserves.
Seniority-Based Layoffs will Exacerbate Job Loss in Public Education
Marguerite RozaCenter on Reinventing Public EducationFebruary 2009
State board likes the governor's plans even without the details
Emmy L. PartinThe State Board of Education passed a resolution last week (15-2, with two members absent) commending Gov. Strickland's education reform plan (see here).
Cincinnati Catholic schools are beginning to tout test scores
Mike LaffertyMore schools in the Cincinnati archdiocese, the nation's eighth-largest Catholic school system, are touting test scores to encourage enrollment.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Charter School Performance in Oakland Unified School District
California Charter Schools AssociationJanuary 2009A new report from the California Charter School Association indicates Oakland-area charter schools are out-performing their public district-school peers (see here).
Why not national standards for big-city school districts?
Michael J. PetrilliRandi (Weingarten) turned in a dandy (op-ed) yesterday in the Washington Post making the case for national standards in education:
21st century skills...in the 19th century
Stafford PalmieriDid Abe Lincoln have 21st century skills? Definitely.
Where 21st century skills belong
Stafford PalmieriAmidst much of the haggling over 21st century skills, we often forget why the two sides disagree. It's not that those thought of as "against" 21st century skills don't think they're of any value. Quite to the contrary. 21st century skills--adaptability, critical thinking skills, ability to manipulate new media--are all good things for students to learn.
The largest education slush fund in history
Michael J. PetrilliThe details are starting to emerge from the stimulus bill (which the House has already approved, so you'd hope the details would be out).
Unionizing charters... maybe not?
Stafford PalmieriWe were all sort of shocked a few weeks ago when KIPP AMP and another KIPP school in New York reached out the New York United Federation of Teachers.
Saving (more) Catholic schools
Stafford PalmieriWe wrote yesterday in the Gadfly??that??four New York City Catholic schools will be saved by going charter.
Better late than never
Stafford PalmieriI dallied yesterday in announcing the BIG NEWS: Gadfly is (and has been for almost 24 hours) out. (I hope I have not caused you undue pain and suffering in my tardiness.) In the top spot, find??Mike and Checker's advice for Arne.
Happy birthday, Charles Darwin!
Michael J. PetrilliAccording to this New York Times column, the father of modern biology, who was born 200 years ago today,??would be "pleased,??but not surprised" by the developments in genetics and other fields that have furthered our understanding of evolution and natural selection.
Massachusetts miracle
Michael J. PetrilliThis letter to the editor is worth reading: To the Editor:
Advice for Arne
Michael J. PetrilliChecker and I have some, about how to implement the stimulus package,??in this week's Gadfly. Here's a snippet:
Re: Happy birthday, Charles Darwin!
Stafford PalmieriAmericans may be skeptical on evolution, but Darwin would surely not approve of this solution: "Darwinism Must Die So That Evolution May Live."
On the outside looking in
Stafford PalmieriAs tough economic times spread from coast to coast, a glance at the evening news offers images of hardship and despair. Down-on-their-luck workers standing in unemployment lines; small businesses shuttered; foreclosure notices on house after house. But here's another sorry sign of the times: more schools slamming doors shut to keep certain children out.
Trends in preschool lead exposure, mental retardation, and scholastic achievement: Association or causation?
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Rick Nevin, National Center for Healthy HousingJournal of Environmental ResearchJanuary 2009
Bloomberg bails out Brooklyn's Catholic schools
Will New York's mayor henceforth be known as Michael "Noah" Bloomberg? Perhaps, if the bishop of the Brooklyn diocese, Nicholas DiMarzio, could rename him. DiMarzio recently likened the former financial guru to the Ark's captain for throwing the diocese a "lifeline" after the two agreed on a plan to convert four struggling Catholic schools to charters.