Section » Theory
Race to the Top Assessment Program: Part II – The Political Significance of Assessment Governance
RTTT is the "Carrot That Feels Like a Stick," says Mike Petrilli (of all people). He "can’t help but feel remorse for the death of federalism." As I prepare for a talk at DePaul University tomorrow, I’m...
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...
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...
The Questions of Education Reform Are Really Questions of Who Decides
It is clear that the education “reform” is being driven by a tiny minority of super wealthy “philanthropists”, executive authorities at state and federal levels of government, and some select “experts”. These are the same forces that have been “leading” education “reform” for the past 30 years, with the result that little has improved,...
“National Standards” and the Public Good
In recent reports about the movement for “common standards for core curriculums in mathematics and reading” concern has been raised with respect to the political nature of the “common standards” agenda. Do these standards constitute “national standards”? To this question, organizers of the initiative say, “No. This initiative is driven...
Federal vs. National Standards
In recent reports about the movement for “common standards for core curriculums in mathematics and reading” spearheaded by various monopolies, state governors, and the U.S Department of Education, an important distinction has been raised. In today’s edition of Inside Higher Ed, Doug Lederman writes: Today...
On the Public/Private Distinction and Political Power
As privatization looms, conceptual clarity regarding this trend is required. Primary, secondary and higher education institutions all face changes that can be dubbed privatization. Yet recent reports point to the complexity of this trend. One example involves efforts of teachers to unionize at an...
ARRA Education Funds and the Crisis of Legitimacy
Governing by Carrots and Sticks: Excerpts from U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan “If folks are playing shell games, if folks are operating in bad faith, it puts their second chance at billions of dollars in jeopardy,” he said. “We have significant carrots and sticks.” — Arne Duncan, April 15, Chicago Tribute. In a April...
On Controlling for Family Influence on Achievement
As I review Berends’ and colleagues 2008 volume Charter School Outcomes (Lawrence Erlbaum), a key assumption of Anglo-American political theory, namely that just inequality is the result of “natural distinction” (as opposed to social distinction), undergirds the authors’ efforts to improve research methods for evaluating school...
Failure of Rights?
“It is the failure of the present social order to guarantee rights that is at issue…” “Was there ever a time in the history of public education that the guaranteed right of each member was the driving force?” The short answer is no, but it is an unsatisfactory answer because it does not deal with the meat of the question. Rights...
