Making The Grade

Making The Grade

The dangers inherent in standardized testing, top heavy administration and consultants, and startup money applied to public schools...

It still seems unbelievable to me that we can't set and achieve basic national literacy and competency standards, foundering on perfectionism and state's rights, I suppose.

But I'll certainly agree that effective teaching requires direct engagement and inspiration by teachers, and community support for families.

And that is much harder to mandate...

(Reposted because stoopid new iOS UI ate the link.  _Bad_ Google...)
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2016/03/24/solving-the-mystery-of-the-schools/

Comments

  1. Timothy StreetMarch 7, 2016 at 8:33 AM

    I'm a nihilist on the subject of large bureaucratic institutions, such as the criminal justice system, as well as education.  The U.S.A. is attempting to "fix" a 19th century structure developed within a different culture and society.  The system is broken; what is necessary is a new approach to educate children.  Unfortunately, there is a lack of will to tackle so profound a change, and I often experience resistance to any discussion of the possibility.  What is needed is revolution; not remedy.  But boldness has gone out of style . . . . what we crave is security.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Drew McCarthyMarch 7, 2016 at 8:36 AM

    So if you expunged it all, what should replace it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Timothy StreetMarch 7, 2016 at 9:53 AM

    Drew McCarthy  There are many ideas and possibilities that I could contribute and critique - I would never say "this is the solution"; I do not believe there is a 'national' solution. That is part of the problem.  What may work on Chicago's southside could be a disaster in Fargo. However, first to go is the conception that the main or sole purpose of an education is to prepare one for a job.

    ReplyDelete

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