Time Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2009
How to Raise the Standard in America's Schools
by Walter Isaacson
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1891468,00.html
National standards have long been the third rail of education politics. The right chokes on the word national, with its implication that the feds will trample on the states' traditional authority over public schools.
It is doubtful and troubling that the organizations responsible for reforming education are at the center of so much controversy. Math reform is one line of their agenda. Instead of a cornerstone for public schools it is a headstone.
ReplyDeleteDuncan is planning to revamp public education with $5 Billion and 30% will no doubt be doled out to the educational non-profits for administrative expenditures.
California has two tests for hs students - one that tests at the minimum threshold and the CST. Public schools and teachers are getting squeezed by a racket.
How many teachers are going to lose their jobs in the US this year? 60,000! That can't be good for education.
This was a recent headline:
ReplyDeleteA group of more than 30 education, business, civil rights and philanthropy organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged Duncan today to ensure that states use the stimulus money to "fundamentally change" the education system.
The administration's "speed and efficiency" in allocating the funds "must not trump reform and improvement," the Coalition for Student Achievement said in a letter to Duncan.
Lets think about what its going to take to fund education properly. I'm teaching at a school where the enrollment is twice what it should be and 40% of the students don't see graduation. Why not provide textbooks that students can read so they can actually learn something important, like algebra and geometry.
Other members of the coalition, which announced its formation today, include the Business Roundtable, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Council of La Raza.