Ignorance is bliss

It comes as no surprise that our teens are short on competitive knowledge for Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit.
However, we are less concerned about recall of trivia as we are about deep understanding and meaningful applications of information. Improving recall of isolated information for a test will not serve this generation well so lets stop worrying about trivia and start doing something about meaningful learning. Only then will our children be able to compete where it counts.

STORY: 'Lunch Scholars' Video Reveals American Teens Can't Answer Basic Trivia (VIDEO)

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrQMxp8rHPq7fNcSkgS5VRk3c8-fqo4h5uzRCVJbrdpPTiSsy9QKQZDD8H" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrQMxp8rHPq7fNcSkgS5VRk3c8-fqo4h5uzRCVJbrdpPTiSsy9QKQZDD8H" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> It comes as no surprise that our teens are short on competitive knowledge for Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit.<br /> However, we are less concerned about recall of trivia as we are about deep understanding and meaningful applications of information. Improving recall of isolated information for a test will not serve this generation well so lets stop worrying about trivia and start doing something about meaningful learning. Only then will our children be able to compete where it counts.<br /> <br /> STORY:<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/lunch-scholars-video-reveals-students-cant-answer-basic-trivia_n_1250023.html?ref=education"> 'Lunch Scholars' Video Reveals American Teens Can't Answer Basic Trivia (VIDEO)</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>

Closing the achievement crap

Germantown High School (Tennessee) principal Ted Horrell recently apologized to parents and students for describing the schools black students as "less smart" than their white counterparts based on the state report card. Ok Ted, how about some remedial Educational Assessment 101...achievement tests and intelligence tests measure different things. Perhaps Ted is "less smart" than a high school principal needs to be. German-town...arian superiority...just wondering?

STORY: Ted Horrell, Germantown High School Principal, Apologizes For Presentation On Race, Test Scores

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://rsrc.psychologytoday.com/files/imagecache/article-top/blogs/54619/2011/05/62659-53114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://rsrc.psychologytoday.com/files/imagecache/article-top/blogs/54619/2011/05/62659-53114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Germantown High School (Tennessee) principal Ted Horrell recently apologized to parents and students for describing the schools black students as "less smart" than their white counterparts based on the state report card. Ok Ted, how about some remedial Educational Assessment 101...achievement tests and intelligence tests measure different things. Perhaps Ted is "less smart" than a high school principal needs to be. <b>German-</b>town...arian superiority...just wondering?<br /> <br /> STORY: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/16/ted-horrell-germantown-hi_n_1208990.html">Ted Horrell, Germantown High School Principal, Apologizes For Presentation On Race, Test Scores</a>