Morning Metro: AJC’s Rocks National Education System, College Ave Annexation Bill Lives On, and Pin-Ups Wins Court Ruling
Decatur Metro | March 25, 2012 | 12:17 pm- AJC shakes national education testing system with explosive report [AJC]
- College Ave annexation bills get Senate support, stay alive [Patch]
- Georgia Supreme Court sides with Pin-Ups [AJC]
- The largest fish kill in Georgia’s history [AJC]
- Bulbs popping at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens [Patch]
Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens
AJC rocks for this report that says what parents and teachers have known or suspected for awhile–the implementation of NCLB has been more about smoke, mirrors, “show and tell”, than better education. I’m not going to repeat all that I said in the FFAF thread but here’s a chilling quote from the AJC:
“Koretz, the Harvard expert, said cheating is one extreme on a continuum that, at its other end, includes gaming the test in legal ways — such as through test-prep drills — that don’t significantly increase students’ overall knowledge or skills.
Even as state test scores have soared, students’ performance on national and international exams has been more mediocre. Cheating and gaming may help explain why.
“The big picture is: Are we seeing apparent gains in student achievement that are bogus?” Koretz asked.”
In the end, all a parent can do is 1) hope for a skilled, caring, hard-working, honest teacher who can withstand whatever funding or administrative stresses are sent their way and instruct your child well; 2) know your own child–some shine no matter where and how they are schooled; others need supports beyond what schools routinely offer. In the case of children who need more than low-maintenance instruction, a parent has to advocate, use the law, get private support, consider private schools (only a few of which are truly better, depending on your child), work with your child (not always the best approach) and pray.
Not to be pedantic, but it’s “Pin Up’s”. I have no idea who Pin Up is/are, but it’s clear from the sign that the place belongs to them.