By Mella Baxter | Originally Published at TakePart. June 25, 2013 A 22-year teaching veteran says we can never know a kid’s full potential if we just rely on high-stakes exams. As Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by [...]
By Donald H. Smith, Ph.D. and Sam Anderson, Ph.D | Originally Published at Black Star News. June 18, 2013 Carter G. Woodson penned a timeless classic on mis-education [On Education] Common Core State Standards created by the Council of State School Officers and the National Governors [...]
By George Joseph | Originally Published at In These Times. June 13, 2013 Photograph; Columbia University's Teachers College held two Masters convocations on May 21. During the ceremonies students held up signs that read "I am not a number" and "not a test score." Photo by George [...]
Columbia University's Teachers College held two Masters convocations on May 21. During the ceremonies students held up signs that read "I am not a number" and "not a test score." Photo by George Joseph
For scores, overconfidence has proven to bring us down. What we characterize as confidence might more accurately be a reflection of the stories we tell ourselves. We exaggerate our expectations of consistency. We presume or believe that life is predictable. With little evidence for causality, we create [...]
By Claire Needell Hollander Originally Published atThe New York Times. June 8, 2013 “IT’S sad,” the kid at the far table told me, “but it’s my favorite poem we worked on.” He was talking about “The Weary Blues,” by Langston Hughes, and although his emotional language was [...]
In the last quarter century or more student evaluations have been used as a form of punishment. Instead of the traditional assessments that invite reflection and a path towards progress, mostly, newer high-stakes examinations determine a student's fate. Frequently, a young person struggling to learn a newer [...]
In the minutes, hours, and days after a "natural" disaster, such as the Oklahoma tornado or the recent Hurricane Sandy storm, we "assess" the damage. No one thinks that someone or ones must be held "accountable." Our hearts and minds are open to discovery. We are able [...]
By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah | Originally Published at Chicago Tribune May 16, 2013 The Chicago Teachers Union's decision to go to court to try to stop the city from closing 53 elementary schools, while not unexpected, makes clear that the Board of Education's vote on the proposal [...]
