Joe Williams' Blog
Does More Money Alone Count As Meaningful Reform?
The Chicago Tribune doesn't seem to think so. They opined:
One advantage of the new education conversation is that legislators know they can make a measurable difference, regardless of whether spending increases are modest or monumental. It's not just about the need for more money, it's about how to spend money wisely.
This page made that point in a seven-part series earlier this year. "From Here to Excellence" detailed how Illinois can get more productive and more accountable schools.
Lawmakers can still do that. For instance, they could decide to invest $60 million to develop a statewide program of intensive mentoring and induction for new teachers. Such programs improve the quality of teaching and keep good teachers in the classroom. Legislators could help local schools pay outstanding teachers more, develop better ways to track student progress and fine-tune curricula throughout the school year.
Don't give up on education. The ideas are there, with or without a lot of cash.
Posted by Joe Williams on July 23, 2007 10:07 AM
July 19, 2007
Funniest Edublog Comparison Of The Week!
Over at EdWeek's This Week In Education blog, Alexander Russo compares the decision by editors at the New York Times to break the embargo on the newest Harry Potter tome with the newspaper of record's decision in 2006 to break the embargo on the Center for American Progress blockbuster report on curriculum narrowing.
I love it.
Posted by Joe Williams on July 19, 2007 3:49 PM
NCLB: Four Bubble Observations
The report that was put out earlier this week on the bubble effect caused by NCLB (the theory is that by focusing on the numbers of students who test 'proficient', NCLB has created an incentive for schools to place most of their focus on kids closest to becoming proficient, rather than focusing on the weakest overall performers) has gotten a lot of attention.
I was at the AEI conference in DC on Monday where it was unveilled, and am generally interested in looking closely at the unintended consequences (real or perceived) of major policies like this.
But there were four things I came away feeling needed additional attention after the report was released and hashed-out by a panel of respondents.
Continue reading "NCLB: Four Bubble Observations"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 19, 2007 11:36 AM
July 17, 2007
Where Do The Presidential Hopefuls Send Their Kids To School?
I never know whether this stuff is worth mentioning, because my personal feeling is that no parent should ever send their child to a school that he or she feels is crappy. And I don't think that public officials should sacrifice their childrens' education for the sake of politics, but I have fielded a bunch of emails lately from people who are asking:
What kind of school choice have the current crop of Democratic candidates exercised for their precious bundles?
Continue reading "Where Do The Presidential Hopefuls Send Their Kids To School?"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 17, 2007 6:19 PM
Prez Hopeful Edwards Backs Vouchers? Holy Moses
The Politico has a report out this morning on Sen. John Edwards' forthcoming plans to eradicate the nation's "two America" school systems for the wealthy and the poor.
The dispatch, from Mike Allen, says Edwards plans to offer a million vouchers over five years to "help low-income families move to better neighborhoods. As part of his vow to end poverty, Edwards also wants to phase out housing projects that trap families in buildings that are shoddier and more expensive than private alternatives."
Continue reading "Prez Hopeful Edwards Backs Vouchers? Holy Moses"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 17, 2007 8:15 AM
July 11, 2007
Have The Democrats Lost The MSM On Ed Issues?
The post- Pander-Palooza pile-on on the presidential candidates continues. Today it comes from San Diego Union Tribune columnist Ruben Navarette and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus. (Following, of course the initial blows from Richard Cohen and Marc Lampkin.)
Both columns are hard-hitting and thoughtful, but the larger significance seems to revolve around the fact that they were even written in the first place. A decade ago, when I used to cover the National Education Association's Representative Assembly, the stories reporters (there were only a few of us who joined Mike Antonucci in the press pit back then) filed with their newspapers tended to be buried back in the paper and read only by teachers union members and/or teachers union critics.
But now the opinion-shaping/opinion-reflecting columnists are starting to decend upon the embarrassed presidential candidates like vultures.
Continue reading "Have The Democrats Lost The MSM On Ed Issues?"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 11, 2007 10:37 AM
July 10, 2007
Lampkin Goes Off On NEA And Prez Candidates
Marc Lampkin, of Ed in 08 fame, and writing on the Huffington Post, gave all the candidates who appeared at last week's National Education Association Pander-Palooza an 'F' grade. He even criticized the union for not allowing the candidates to do more than stand there getting stroked by the delegates.
Continue reading "Lampkin Goes Off On NEA And Prez Candidates"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 10, 2007 9:45 AM
