In the Las Vegas schools of Clark County School District it was just reported that the percentage of high school seniors (in the Clark County district) who passed the math proficiency test fell to just 22 percent. The reporter starts the opening paragraph with 'At first glance, the report looks like more bad news...'
Uhm, excuse me...'looks' like bad news? As in...you are about to tell me why there is good news in the fact that only slightly over 1 of 5 Seniors could pass a Multiple Choice Test based on Eighth Grade material?
Please check out the full story here: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/dec/30/pass-rate-falls-students-taking-key-test-seniors/
In the story the reporter divulges critical facts, and then totally ignores what those facts mean.
1. The tests are based on eighth grade material;
2. These students have taken the test at least twice before (10th and 11th grades);
3. The students having failed the tests previously were known by the district to have failed and needed remedial attention (for at least two years);
4. The State of Nevada has been instructed by the Federal Dept of Education to revise the exam to include high school level material.
Data not included in the report:
5. These tests are largely Multiple Choice, making them one of the easiest test types to pass because the correct answer is always included;
6. The score needed to pass the test is only 60%; the equivalent of a D-.
What it means is simply this: Of the CCSD Seniors still needing to pass the math proficiency test, a test for which the answers are visible, and the schools had 5 years to train the material; only 22% could manage at least a barely passing grade. Is there a better, more complete, definition of incompetence?
This indicates a staggering level of district-wide incompetence that is frankly mind-boggling. Yet the reporter listens to a couple district and State officials explain it all away. 'Yes, (one can almost hear these officials reflecting) this 'concerns us' but with current fiscal crisis and budget cut to education, well of course student progress suffers.' (Ok, this is my own rendition of what they actually said, but how many times have we heard such drivel from educrats?)
What the reporter ignores is that these students have, or rather should have, learned and mastered the material Five (5) years ago when they finished the eighth grade. There was no economic crisis 5, 4, 3, or even 2 years ago. So why all of a sudden does some minor cut-back have an impact? The fact is that the schools failed to teach the material year in and year out. The students were reviewed on several occasions and found to be failing, and the schools did NOTHING about it.
And there is not one indication from the district that they are in any way responsible for this situation.
Not only are they not responsible, but we are to excuse the failings of inept schools because there are minor cuts in funding? Only the most empty-headed of reporters could print this story with a straight face. Or, perhaps she is being paid by the school district to publish these puff pieces and excuse their failings? (I have followed this reporter's work for several years and she does this type of thing constantly) What it amounts to is misleading the public into a false sense of security. If the public does not know the truth (and they don't) then they will not understand the depth of betrayal by the schools. And thus will not demand the reform truly needed, which current management cannot deliver. This reporter certainly never challenges the district on the facts.
What you should understand and never forget is the fact that test scores measure not only how well the students are learning the material, but how well the schools are delivering it. The Clark County school district is a disaster not unlike the Titanic, and reporters like this are the cruise directors telling the passengers, 'everything is all right, the Captain has it under control. The bump you felt wasn't an iceberg...'
Examine any number of education reporters' reports. You will find this same sort of 'excuse everything' mentality when dealing with the schools and school districts at the local level. This occurs in virtually every city and state, and if you are not wise to it, you too will be hoodwinked by the powder puff league of reporting.
God save us from idiots with a barrel of ink.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Charter Schools Black Eye
The public school supporters are cheering; charter schools were just delivered a black eye. Over the weekend a multi-part story ran in the Philadelphia Enquirer about financial irregularities of the charter school program in Pennsylvania. The full story can be seen here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/education/20081228
The story itself is typical of human action regarding the pursuit of money, and not one you would be surprised over. There are innumerable stories of corruption involving public funds in every sector of human endeavor.
The real interest in this story is going to be its impact upon the school reform movement. There is already a turf war from the public school point of view, because charter schools intrusion has drained, in some areas, significant funds from their coffers. Pennsylvania has had the loosest regulatory laws regarding charter schools, and that is certain to end, but if the public schools have their way, they will gain the ability to shut those schools down for similar infractions in the future.
This blog is not making any moral, ethical, or legal judgement in whatever case is brought about against any of the charter schools under scrutiny in this report. There is insufficient data in the report to determine any legal matter. It is the PR damage 'fallout' of the story which calls to question the operation of the schools at this time.
Throughout the week I suggest you bounce around to various education related blogs to see how the story is viewed. Initial reaction from the public school supporters is a good amount of cheering, though there is nothing to cheer about. Charter school supporters are silent, but there is nothing to be silent about either.
Education has become more about money for adults than it is about education of our youth, and that is true at all levels in all areas. The reactions to this story will prove it so, and were we an ethical people we would be shamed.
Alas, we are not.
The story itself is typical of human action regarding the pursuit of money, and not one you would be surprised over. There are innumerable stories of corruption involving public funds in every sector of human endeavor.
The real interest in this story is going to be its impact upon the school reform movement. There is already a turf war from the public school point of view, because charter schools intrusion has drained, in some areas, significant funds from their coffers. Pennsylvania has had the loosest regulatory laws regarding charter schools, and that is certain to end, but if the public schools have their way, they will gain the ability to shut those schools down for similar infractions in the future.
This blog is not making any moral, ethical, or legal judgement in whatever case is brought about against any of the charter schools under scrutiny in this report. There is insufficient data in the report to determine any legal matter. It is the PR damage 'fallout' of the story which calls to question the operation of the schools at this time.
Throughout the week I suggest you bounce around to various education related blogs to see how the story is viewed. Initial reaction from the public school supporters is a good amount of cheering, though there is nothing to cheer about. Charter school supporters are silent, but there is nothing to be silent about either.
Education has become more about money for adults than it is about education of our youth, and that is true at all levels in all areas. The reactions to this story will prove it so, and were we an ethical people we would be shamed.
Alas, we are not.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Weighing in on Duncan
There is a great deal of news and blog posts on various sites about President Elect Obama's choice for Education Sec, Arne Duncan, as if the Ed Sec is of any real importance.
People, please relax. The Sec Ed is a largely ceremonial post, its not like the Dept of Education has any real effect upon the outcomes of public education. Whomever Obama chooses, that person's personality and/or qualifications for the position are far less important than the politics involved.
Rather than asking whether so and so is going to make a good appointee, you should be asking how politics is going to effect the near future of the education establishment. President Elect Obama is a Democrat, and is beholden to the national Teacher unions which are big supporters of the Democrat party. The teacher unions very much expect repayment for their support of the Democrat candidates in the recent election.
What do the teacher unions want? Top of the list is repeal or total dilution of NCLB.
Other factors? Oh yes, Democrats have control of both houses of Congress, meaning the road is pretty clear if leadership chooses to travel it.
Any new Sec Ed is going to have the job of enabling legislation to repeal/dilute NCLB, or he is going to be the man who has to explain to the unions why they aren't going to get the support expected from the new administration. Either way it is a PR job that is not going to be much fun.
And if you really care about education progress, you will focus on the basics of education and resolving the problems of delivery, rather than wasting time worrying what politicians are going to do in the arena. After all, there is only one group less successful than public education...and you don't really expect good results from politicians, do you?
Whatever you think about Mr. Duncan, he is going to be doing exactly what the Administration wants on the major issues. So, who cares?
People, please relax. The Sec Ed is a largely ceremonial post, its not like the Dept of Education has any real effect upon the outcomes of public education. Whomever Obama chooses, that person's personality and/or qualifications for the position are far less important than the politics involved.
Rather than asking whether so and so is going to make a good appointee, you should be asking how politics is going to effect the near future of the education establishment. President Elect Obama is a Democrat, and is beholden to the national Teacher unions which are big supporters of the Democrat party. The teacher unions very much expect repayment for their support of the Democrat candidates in the recent election.
What do the teacher unions want? Top of the list is repeal or total dilution of NCLB.
Other factors? Oh yes, Democrats have control of both houses of Congress, meaning the road is pretty clear if leadership chooses to travel it.
Any new Sec Ed is going to have the job of enabling legislation to repeal/dilute NCLB, or he is going to be the man who has to explain to the unions why they aren't going to get the support expected from the new administration. Either way it is a PR job that is not going to be much fun.
And if you really care about education progress, you will focus on the basics of education and resolving the problems of delivery, rather than wasting time worrying what politicians are going to do in the arena. After all, there is only one group less successful than public education...and you don't really expect good results from politicians, do you?
Whatever you think about Mr. Duncan, he is going to be doing exactly what the Administration wants on the major issues. So, who cares?
The Reality of Public Education
There is no question that the American Public Education system is in trouble. Decades of statistical evidence shows a consistenly poor level of results. The only questions unresolved are why the problem exists, and how to solve it.
The purpose of this blog is to solve the problems of public education. One of the biggest jobs in this effort is to examine the thoughts about and policies proposed for the system. The simplicity of this is that we must evaluate every position thoroughly becuase our track record is so poor.
Media reports are filled with false or misleading information about the public education effort, and such reports are as harmful to education as the poor quality itself.
Comments and conversation on issues are always welcome.
Time to play...;)
The purpose of this blog is to solve the problems of public education. One of the biggest jobs in this effort is to examine the thoughts about and policies proposed for the system. The simplicity of this is that we must evaluate every position thoroughly becuase our track record is so poor.
Media reports are filled with false or misleading information about the public education effort, and such reports are as harmful to education as the poor quality itself.
Comments and conversation on issues are always welcome.
Time to play...;)
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