The 'Great Teacher' Trap
The theme of the recent Education Writers Association (EWA) event at the Carnegie Corporation (which I mentioned in my post on Saturday) was ?the promise and pitfalls of improving the teaching profession.??
The theme of the recent Education Writers Association (EWA) event at the Carnegie Corporation (which I mentioned in my post on Saturday) was ?the promise and pitfalls of improving the teaching profession.??
Education politics just got weirder: liberals are now for "local control," and Tea Party conservatives are against it. At least that one's way to read the situation in Madison. [quote]
Richard Kahlenberg takes on Michelle Rhee, whose ?dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education.? He also takes on the ?elite press,? which has been far too uncritical of the former schools chancellor because she is ?a hard-working Ivy League graduate? who reporters simply ?respect?. . .?as one of their own.?
?Most education researchers?recognize that Rhee's simple vision of heroic teachers saving American education is a fantasy, and that her dramatic, often authoritarian, style is ill-suited for education''* - Richard D. Kahlenberg, Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation
?[I am] reforming an education system that costs too much and does too little for our society today and our children's future?* - Chris Christie, Governor, New Jersey
For the second year in a row, all the seniors at the all-male Urban Prep charter school in Chicago have been accepted?by a four-year college or university.?And to its credit, the school isn't just focused on getting its students accepted; it wants to ensure that every one of them earns a bachelor's degree.
D.C.'s classy new teacher-evaluation system, IMPACT, is just gaining traction (even as the new Mayor is hinting that he wants it redone). But the data generated through its process are already finding other uses.
Well, I think it's safe to say that our new study, The State of State U.S. History Standards 2011, has folks talking. Just wanted to highlight some of the press attention it has received so far ?
Remember -- there's a?great education event in Atlanta on Monday, February 21 (Presidents' Day).
All right, so the mayhem in Madison (shut down those public-employee unions!) was all over the nightly news as well as this morning's headlines?and no doubt will continue to be America's answer to Tahrir Square, at least for today.
Loyal Flypaper readers?and even all you folks out there who stumbled onto our blog on this lazy Friday before a long weekend?have we got a treat for you! This week's Education Gadfly has it all.
It's been over two years since I stood in front of a class of high schoolers, explaining the formula for the area of a triangle and what pacifism looks like in practice (I taught at a pull-out special-education school, and my courseload was more varied than that of my students). It almost feels like another lifetime.
Texans ought to take a look at Fordham's recent assessment of their state's history standards, which, according to the ?State of State U.S. History Standards 2011,? ?inculcate biblical principles, patriotic values, and American Exceptionalism,?
?We've been in a good place with [Obama officials] the whole time.? We both agree absolutely that the way it is right now in public education can't remain. The status quo is not acceptable.?* - Dennis Van Roekel, President, National Education Association
I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that some teachers--facing layoffs, pay freezes, and the rest--would strike out in violence. But it's inexcusable all the same. See today's story from Idaho:
Bummed you missed Darwin Day this weekend? I'm sure watching IBM's Watson compete on Jeopardy more than made up for it.
?Under the law, ?we will be forced to let go of teachers who are having a greater positive impact on their students than some of their peers?* - Cathleen Black, Chancellor, New York City Schools
Okay, everyone hold hands.? Now, repeat after me: We Will? Love -? Each Other -- And ?Educate ? All ?Kids!? ? Or, try this: ? You two shake hands, and don't let me catch you fighting again!?
Over at the Hechinger Report they're assessing the education stimulus?the $100 billion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that went, ostensibly, to schools. Race to the Top, the Department of Education's $4.3 billion grant competition, is particularly scrutinized.
Michael Winerip writes, ?There is no more pressing topic in education today than closing the achievement gap . . .? I just do not believe that.
?We'll just stop taking graduates from institutions that aren't producing effective teachers.?* - Jason Kamras, Personnel Chief, D.C. Public Schools
?Scaling back on early childhood programs is something that is not in the best interest of our communities, or ultimately our states, because we have to close achievement gaps."* - Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
The Hechinger Report and the Education Writers Association have teamed up with Michele McNeil, Education Week's federal policy editor, to produce a comprehensive report on the impact of the gargantuan education stimulus program from two years ago ?
Rarely do I come home from a school board meeting without wanting to scream, ?Call in the National Guard!?? To change metaphors, I could spin the globe, eyes closed, and put my finger just about anywhere on our little school district map to find what to my eyes looks like a train wreck and to others, based on the reactions,?the regular delivery van.?