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What do you think of this accountability mixed metaphor?

I’m now done with the preface and chapters 1-2 of Accountability Frankenstein, and I just noticed the following mixed metaphor: For a school official to say blithely that elementary teachers should deemphasize -ing word endings in language arts because -s and -es endings are on the test but -ing endings are not is letting the […]

Did I really say that? and other interactions with journalists

This morning, I was quoted in a local newspaper article on our school district calendar as saying, “There was much kind of grumbling on the committee about those options.” Much kind of?? Someone please remind me to write everything down before I respond to off-the-cuff questions of a journalist.  Peter Jennings I’m obviously not. Marilyn […]

Jay Mathews discusses the prospects for national testing

Sunday’s column by Washington Post writer Jay Mathews focuses on renewed arguments for a national test that every student would take. The dramatic difference between the proportions of students in various states’ being labeled proficient based on the state test vs. the National Assessment of Educational Progress is the fulcrum of the argument. I think. […]

Losing our way

Shameless plug: Fellow Haverford grad Ken Bernstein has a new post up at The Wall of Education called I think we have lost our way. Provocative, thoughtful stuff, regardless of the extent to which you agree with his perspective. (Disclosure: I’m a fellow writer on this multiblog.)

Of liberal arts colleges, a core curriculum, and contingent faculty

One might suppose that the following is an object lesson about the type of overgeneralizing that Donald Kagan swims in for his Commentary magazine piece about imperious faculty. (Much better: head to University Diarist’s corresponding entry and the fascinating comment thread.) Are faculty blocking a core curriculum either through their pomo aspirations or laziness/caring more […]