Broad Foundation: Facts on the Wrecking of Public Education
The Perimeter Primate has posted two pieces on what it deems “the Broad Effect” — what is...
Featured Article
Is Thinking a “Skill”? Values and Problems in Thinking About the “Liberal Arts”
In today’s online version of the Chronicle of Higher Education, four views regarding the “future of the liberal arts” are presented. While not intending to pick on Martha Nussbaum’s “The Liberal Arts Are Not Elitist” — for in spirit we share a common concern — the piece does nonetheless represent some perennial problems in how public discourse conceptualizes education. As an illustration of these problems I examine some of the assumptions and features of the essay. Nussbaum begins by warning of a crisis in education, a crisis rooted in the quest for national profit or economic gain (interestingly enough this point is made without reference to the dramatic...
Opinion
Realism and Social Change
In corresponding with Cassiodorus about my book, the question of social change took center stage. When you argue for social change you inevitably come up against the claims of “realism” — we can’t change this or that because to do so would be “unrealistic.” This is the argument typically favored by the incrementalists: “since we can’t change society as a whole,” they say, “let’s...
Research
Think Tank Review: Report on Impact of Charters Overstates Results
PRESS RELEASE: ‘Everyone Wins’ ignores factors besides competition to explain marginally improved public school achievement in NYC November 17, 2009 Contact: Patrick McEwan, (781) 283-2987; (email) pmcewan@wellesley.edu Gary Miron, (269) 599-7965; (email) gary.miron@wmich.edu TEMPE, Ariz. and BOULDER, Colo. (November 17, 2009) — A report released three weeks ago looked at the competition effects of New York City’s charter schools,...
Theory
Are Tests Measures of Test Taking Ability?
In a recent discussion of my book, A Measure of Failure, the typical argument against any critique of standardized testing was issued in response to a favorable review of the book’s main points. In the comments we read: “A math test, such as the math portion of the SAT for instance, most certainly measures a student’s ability to do the math...
Reviews
Review of “A Measure of Failure: The Political Origins of Standardized Testing”
The February issue of Counseling Today carries a review of my book by Aaron W. Hughey, professor of counseling and student affairs, Western Kentucky University. The essay begins: “True or false: Proponents of standardized testing are, unintentionally or otherwise, pushing an agenda that intrinsically advocates racism and socioeconomic oppression. Intrigued? Then read on. It really is an understatement to claim that standardized testing permeates...
Blog
March 4 Actions to Defend Public Education & Ravitch Opposition to Testing and Choice
Democracy Now! offers a summary of actions during the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education. “Students and teachers held hundreds of demonstrations on Thursday as part of the National Day...
Hess on Federal Jargon & the Jargon of Venture Capitalism and Wall Street Dictate
Much is now being made of the finalists for the first round of Race to the Top funds. To his credit, AEI’s Fred...
Preparing for Tests, Learning…?
As I read Cohen and Moffitt’s, The Ordeal of Equality, I could not help but make some connections to a recent
Remarks by the President on the “Education To Innovate” Campaign
The White House Office of the Press Secretary November 23, 2009 South Court Auditorium, Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I am extraordinarily excited to have you...
American Enterprise Institute Holds Forum on “Increasing Accountability in American Higher Education”
Inside Higher Ed reports that a conference organized by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) yesterday sought to define accountability...
