by David Safier A few short, related, education-in-the-news takes: 1. One of the latest education buzz terms is "value-added," meaning teachers are successful if they increase the learning of their students. Though the concept is obviously true, using standardized tests as the measure of "value" is fraught with problems. A review of the literature from … Read more
by David Safier I just received a press release from Paula Aboud, incoming Senate Minority Whip, about the War on Ethnic Studies. The first few paragraphs say it all: The actions of Attorney General Tom Horne and Superintendent John Huppenthal are nothing more than political opportunism against Arizona’s schoolchildren when there are more pressing state … Read more
by David Safier NPR ran a story yesterday about Arizona's mandated four-hour-a-day ELL program, which basically segregates students with limited English skills into "Mexican rooms" and insists only the English language and no other curriculum can be taught. In the story, Horne says he really wasn't so hot on the idea: [Horne] admits that he … Read more
by David Safier Mark this date on your calendar. It's the day I write: The Star editorial is the best piece on the War of Ethnic Studies I've read anywhere, period. Here are a few highlights. You really should read the whole thing. Whether one agrees with Tom Horne's opinion of TUSD's ethnic -studies program … Read more
by David Safier One of the greatest strengths of this country's educational system — which also leads to some of its most intractable problems and its huge expense — is our system of unlimited second chances, which holds that everyone should have the opportunity to go as far in their educational attainment as their ambition … Read more