Here are some interesting finds from around the Internet this week:
- High Stakes Tests Harm Students and Teachers, Undermine Equity in New York’s Schools – New York’s over-reliance on high-stakes standardized testing harms students, teachers and public schools, with especially harsh consequences for high-need students and the teachers and schools that serve them, according to a letter signed by more than 1,100 New York State professors and released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The experts – from across the state, in disciplines that include education, law, statistics, history, psychology and anthropology – offered professional expertise to help the state generate multiple pathways for accountability. The letter was released during a panel of educators and academics convened by the NYCLU focusing on the problems associated with an over-reliance on high-stakes testing.
- How GERM is infecting schools around the world – This was written by Pasi Sahlberg, author of Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn About Educational Change in Finland? and director general of Finland’s Center for International Mobility and Cooperation. He has served the Finnish government in various positions, worked for the World Bank in Washington D.C. and for the European Training Foundation in Italy as senior education specialist. Sahlberg has also advised governments internationally about education policies and reforms. He is also an adjunct professor of education at the University of Helsinki and University of Oulu. He can be reached at pasi.sahlberg@cimo.fi
- Why are growing numbers of Minnesota youngsters being home schooled? – Why are some families doing home schooling, how many are doing it, and is it a good idea? Several readers responded to a recent column on district and charter enrollment by asking these questions First, why? Professor Milton Gaither of Messiah College in Pennsylvania responded, “The most recent (2007) National Center for Education Statistics data has the top three reasons for homeschooling being first, a concern about school environment (bullying, lack of morals, etc), second, a parental desire to provide religious or moral instruction, and third, dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at the public school.” Beth Balmanno, president of Minnesota Homeschoolers’ Alliance believes, “Although each situation is unique, most parents turn to homeschooling because, ultimately, they want what is best for their kids. Perhaps their special needs students aren’t getting their needs met; maybe their gifted child isn’t being challenged; or maybe they want to provide their child with the ability to follow their passions and interests, free of an institutionalized schedule.”
- Where should we focus our efforts? A blog post on testing data analysis including a video of Yong Zhao (starts at about the 18th minute)
