Good stuff. Targeting only the production of higher scores often leads to falsified results. Happens with Scientific Research all the time, funding or publishing biases for "significant" or "optimistic" results .
I saw "Waiting for Superman" and the idea about how do you evaluate, seemed a major blank in their analysis. Also by whom, the clients (students) views are important and the input from colleagues too. Centralized power going to the Principals or School Boards managers is problematic in terms of establishing appropriate decisions for more delayed and considered decisions on tenures or pay incentives. The issues while much better thought out at colleges and universities are also certainly going to be different, when applied to teachers of grade school children, though not 100% so. It also seemed to me that they downplayed the value of proper funding way too much in the film, decrying "throwing money at the problem". For example, so many studies have shown if you feed students good breakfasts +/or lunches, attendance and test scores tend to go markedly up. Still very important to success is appropriating sufficient well spent dollars and cents. Rick On May 1, 2011, at 9:08 AM, Glenn wrote: > > > http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110501_City_school_s_fast-rising_test_scores.html > > This is very good reporting for corporate media and raises very important > issues. > > What I hope is becoming more obvious is that the school reform propaganda has > always been designed to distract and deceive the majority of people, so that > privatization (charters/vouchers) can be demanded. The honest experts have > always known that these cheap statistical evaluations will never lead to > improvements, and always lead to fraud. > > > What I don't think people are considering is that evaluations can be designed > for constructive improvements for professionals, and can lead to amazing > improvements! It's an investment and serious path to improvement, but it is > slightly more expensive. A good evaluation process must use multiple > measures and different methodologies to construct an evaluation to provide > positive feedback! Yes positive feedback rather than "got you." > > Please consider this statement carefully, so we can start reversing the > corporatist model for everything. > > > Many years ago, I did a study and co-authored a paper comparing 3 typical > methods to conduct evaluations of addiction programs. It raised troubling > issues. > > What we found was that each method suggested very different conclusions! > > > The same type of cheap single measure statistical evaluations were being done > to sabotage behavioral health care during the transition to the "managed care > model." The evaluation process only reinforced a downward spiral, lots of > cheating or exaggeration, and never improvement or feedback! > > We need to treat teachers like professionals, and design a process for > ongoing constructive feedback and help, especially for new teachers. It > ain't rocket science! But we need to be informed citizens, and start > demanding quality and honesty, instead of cheap frauds! > > Sincerely, > Glenn > > > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
