Roy F. McCampbell's Blog

EduShyster notes the convergence of three happenings:

1. The New York Daily News breaks the story of KIPP’s “padded cell” for disruptive children. KIPP officials declare they will continue using the padded cell–actually, a closet with a window–as a “calming” space.

2. Simultaneously, the New York Times writes an editorial praising KIPP for its successful methods in educating black and Hispanic children.

3. A new study from researchers at MIT and other universities concludes that higher scores on standardized tests do not predict the development of “fluid” intelligence, the higher-order thinking needed for the thinkers and innovators of the future.

This is one of EduShyster’s most powerful posts. Humorous, of course, but containing valuable information.

In Kentucky and New York, the Common Core tests caused test scores to tumble by 30 points or more.

State officials assume–with no evidence–that the scores will go up every year. What if they don’t? What if they go up only by a small increment? What if 50-60% of students don’t pass?

In New York, the “passing” rate on the Common Core tests was 30% statewide. Only 3% of English learners passed, and only 5% of students with disabilities. The pass rate for African American and Hispanic students was 15-18%.

If the state continues to insist upon a wildly unrealistic passing mark, the percentage of students who do not graduate will soar.

If Pearson aligns the GED with the Common Core, a startling number of students will never have high school diplomas of any kind. They won’t even qualify for the military. Will they be doomed to a life of…

This is a very funny
spoof of federal education policy. Imagine Arne Duncan
and Roger Goodell, the president of the NFL, calling a joint press
conference to announce a new program called Race to the End Zone.
Imagine an agreement that all teams will use the same plays. Now
the NFL will have no failing teams! “We in the NFL love the Common
Core Curriculum that Mr. Duncan is pushing on schools here in D. C.
and in forty-five states,” Goodell continued. “Just as he believes
Common Core Curriculum can save the schools, we believe a Common
Core Playbook will save our struggling teams. Beginning with the
2013 season every coach and every team will use the same playbook.”
The press corps grumbles: “An MSNBC reporter shouted from the fifth
row: “Do you truly believe if all teams run the same plays they’ll
all have the same success?” “Of course,”…