If paying students can affect their test scores . . .
by David Safier Standardized tests are fine, so long as the results are kept in perspective. But when they're made the gold standard for assessing student achievement, things get weird, and measurements of achievement become badly skewed. Here's one of the many problems with high stakes tests. If motivated test takers do better than an … Read more
Back from vacation: a few bits and (amusing to me) pieces
by David Safier My wanderings, with erratic and occasional postings, are over for awhile. I promise to return to seriousness soon — maybe even today. But first I need to unburden myself of a few amusing tidbits. Here's the first: The best — as in most enjoyable — headline I've seen recently: Boys Trail Girls … Read more
The end of the line for journalism
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Republic today has an amazingly lame editorial opinion about the Shirley Sherrod smear that consumed the attention span of the mainstream media last week to the exclusion of all else. Truth is the other victim in Shirley Sherrod case. Longtime residents of Arizona are familiar with the long sordid history … Read more
Jan Brewer says she’s getting the job done (seriously?!)
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Accidental Governor, Jan Brewer, and the Republican-dominated legislature are the worst failures in Arizona history, without equal, as we have documented at this blog over the past two years. But Jan Brewer, the queen of making up shit, says it all has been a great success. Black is white, up is down, war … Read more
The corrupting influence of Citizens United v. FEC
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: As if corporations and their lobbyists do not already exert undue influence over elected officials, things are about to get a lot worse as a result of the conservative activist U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC giving corporations the right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections … Read more
The Arizona Republic endorses Rodney Glassman and Felecia Rotellini
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Republic continues its endorsements today. The Arizona Republic's voters' guide to 2010 primary election: U.S. Senate (Dem.): Glassman displaying energy, savvy With national focus on Arizona's Republican race for the U.S. Senate, the candidates on the other side of the aisle have gotten scant attention. They deserve more. Rodney Glassman, … Read more
Is Stuffing Lucrative Private Prisons with Immigrants the Real Motive Behind SB1070?
By Michael Bryan Channel 5 investigates and makes Governor Brewer flee in terror from their questions about links between her key advisors and the private prison industry. Hat tip to Man Eegee for the video link.
