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Popperian chutzpah

I have no idea whether Andy Rotherham is correct in claiming that the Economic Policy Institute paper on value-added scores and teacher evaluation is marginal to the current policy debate. The historian in me wants to talk about contingency and the human vulnerability to confirmation bias, and it seems the EPI paper follows one line of reasoning from the IES report on value-added estimate errors. On the other hand, Rotherham just made a bold prediction Karl Popper would applaud, or at least recognize as empirically (dis)confirmable. So maybe I'll use this and the switch of Rotherham from one newsweeklie to another as an opportunity for an inexcusable pun: Time will tell.

3 responses to “Popperian chutzpah”

  1. Thomas J. Mertz

    It should be pointed out that dismissing adversaries as marginal is a lot easier than countering their argument. It can also be effective as part of an effort to marginalize.

  2. Glen S. McGhee

    But what would the sociologist in you say, Sherman?
    Maybe what I posted here?
    http://home.earthlink.net/~fheapblog/

  3. Glen McGhee

    Too late. VAM roll-out underway in FL.

    Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing
    Department: Department of Education
    Division: State Board of Education
    Subject: The purpose of this workshop is to offer the opportunity for dialogue, information sharing, and feedback from educators and stakeholders on the subject of Value Added Measures. The keynote speaker for this workshop is George Noell, Executive Director for Strategic Research and Analysis, Louisiana Department of Education.
    Date/Time: September 13, 2010, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (CDT)
    Location: Gulf Coast Community College, 5230 West Highway 98, Conference Center Student Union East, 2nd Floor, Panama City, FL
    https://www.flrules.org/gateway/View_Notice.asp?id=9050602

    http://www.fldoe.org/whatworks/