Eclectic Technology

"As criticism of No Child Left Behind and the associated tests rises, we are hearing more and more about the Common Core Standards (CCS), the next great thing that is supposed to fix all that ails us...

Arne Duncan, likewise, when pushed about our obsession with standardized tests, offers up the Common Core, and the new tests being designed with Department of Education funding, as the solution. According to him, we will soon move "beyond the bubble tests," into a new generation of assessments... 

But the Common Core is facing significant pushback, especially from state-level policymakers..."

As you continue to read this article it does appear that the iniatives that many states are undertaking, the adoption of Common Core, the Race to the Top, lead to high stake testing that will happen in more grades and more subjects as time goes on. In a short period of time the testing is scheduled to become computer-based, which will bring machines grading tests.

So where is localism in this discussion. After a short review of how we have gotten to this point Andrew Cody shares an interview he had with Nebraska Education Commissioner Doug Christensen as well as comments from Yong Zhao. This is a fascinating read with information that may make you look at these issues with new insights.

A look at two surveys with very different results. The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher "showed that teachers across the nation are demoralized and that their job satisfaction has dropped precipitously since 2009. The proportion thinking of leaving teaching has gone from 17 percent to 29 percent, a 70 percent increase in only two years."
Yet a second survey, Primary Sources: 2012 (conducted ty Scholastic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) "found that 51 percent of teachers plan to teach "as long as I am able," even past retirement age, and another 32 percent expect to teach until they reach retirement age. So while MetLife concluded that 29 percent were ready to quit, Scholastic-Gates tallied this group as 16-17 percent."
If you are interested in learing more about what teachers want take the time to read this post.

"If you want to change government policy, change the politicians who make it. The implications of this truism have now taken hold in the market-modeled “education reform movement.” As a result, the private funders and nonprofit groups that run the movement have overhauled their strategy. They’ve gone political as never before—like the National Rifle Association or Big Pharma or (ed reformers emphasize) the teachers’ unions."

Now that you’ve seen our infographic outlining what Uncle Sam is doing with your tax dollars, you know that 4.8% of those precious tax dollars go toward education. But how, exactly, is that chunk of change used?