Free at last

No more "stick but no carrot" approach for public education. Finally a more reasonable approach to lifting achievement in  public schools. This move is long overdue...but we would caution that if any standardized tests are to be used, they be universally applied and that innovative, break the 19th century model we currently employ be encouraged. Why not require all states to use NAEP (National Educational Progress) as a common benchmarking instrument? We fear the answer is from the multi-billion dollar test industry.
STORY: No Child Left Behind: 10 States Receive Waivers From Education Law's Sweeping Requirements

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzWIbiuBsraP3iBF4Oe-WUIsaQySmhPtx6PjRhIW-QgFjuz0rlbw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTzWIbiuBsraP3iBF4Oe-WUIsaQySmhPtx6PjRhIW-QgFjuz0rlbw" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> No more "stick but no carrot" approach for public education. Finally a more reasonable approach to lifting achievement in  public schools. This move is long overdue...but we would caution that if any standardized tests are to be used, they be universally applied and that innovative, break the 19th century model we currently employ be encouraged. Why not require all states to use NAEP (National Educational Progress) as a common benchmarking instrument? We fear the answer is from the multi-billion dollar test industry.<br /> STORY: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/09/no-child-left-behind-waivers_n_1264872.html">No Child Left Behind: 10 States Receive Waivers From Education Law's Sweeping Requirements</a>

Wooly Bully

Ex-superintendent of two Georgia School Districts (Cobb and Fulton Counties) has drawn fire and ire for allegedly threatening a state official investigating wide-spread cheating on state exams. James Wilson railed against the inquiry, telling Kathleen Mathers she would "pay dearly" for her use of "Gestapo tactics." The poor Gestapos can't get a break! Here we have the best of high stakes testing...cheating, coercion, bullying are but the tip of the "testberg." Underlying our blind faith in standardized test results are the loss of...recess, Physical Education, Art/Music, innovation and creativity. Imagine if all students across the nation sat for these exams and just filled them out randomly as a form of protest...every school would fail to make AYP... then what?

STORY: James Wilson, Former Georgia Schools Superintendent, Caught On Tape Bullying State Official Over Cheating Probe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTqAlCVVEuNYFdqndgQpIdzoydmA4W1wKDvrtRq4cnC8A8bCFw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTTqAlCVVEuNYFdqndgQpIdzoydmA4W1wKDvrtRq4cnC8A8bCFw" width="298" /></a></div> <br /> Ex-superintendent of two Georgia School Districts (Cobb and Fulton Counties) has drawn fire and ire for allegedly threatening a state official investigating wide-spread cheating on state exams. James Wilson railed against the inquiry, telling Kathleen Mathers she would "pay dearly" for her use of "Gestapo tactics." The poor Gestapos can't get a break! Here we have the best of high stakes testing...cheating, coercion, bullying are but the tip of the "testberg." Underlying our blind faith in standardized test results are the loss of...recess, Physical Education, Art/Music, innovation and creativity. Imagine if <b>all students across the nation </b>sat for these exams and just filled them out randomly as a form of protest...<b>every school</b> would fail to make AYP... then what?<br /> <br /> STORY: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/james-wilson-former-georg_n_1213934.html">James Wilson, Former Georgia Schools Superintendent, Caught On Tape Bullying State Official Over Cheating Probe</a>