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
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
by David Safier For decades, conservatives have condemned schools for teaching Moral Relativism. It's also called Values Clarification. A Values Clarification question might be something like, "How should you punish someone who steals food to feed his hungry family?" That's terrible! scream conservatives. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. The law is the law! We … Read more
by David Safier The latest from Steve Gall, the Recess Doctor: Kudos to Zohreh Saunders, grandmother and reading tutor at Dunham Elementary School for 4 years, for speaking on behalf of a 30 minute/day recess program in the elementary schools at the TUSD Governing Board meeting. We are trying to convince them to mandate this … Read more
by David Safier A few bits and pieces: In a Washington Post op ed, Professors Gabriel Chin (UA) and Kevin R. Johnson (U.C. Davis) write that racial profiling is absolutely legal under SB1070, due to long standing decisions by the U.S. and Arizona Supreme Courts. They suggest attacking the problem at the source: "The U.S. … Read more