I’m Not Convinced MONEY Is The Answer

I haven’t read the paper.  Its title is — Economic Gains for U.S. States from Educational Reform

It’s about reform — re-shaping, re-forming,  re-designing, re-writing — whatever — re-prioritizing !

The paper is $5 and I’ll probably get it and read it.  I will pointedly look for where (IF) the authors actually state that MORE MONEY is required for schooling.  The abstract says the authors suggest improvements should be made that move “each state to the best-performing state”. 

The Atlantic article does not mention more money but uses the word “invest” which could mean all, or some, of the following:

1   Using current money more smartly, more efficiently, more bang-for-the-buck
2   Prioritizing the basics for all —  “the baseline scenario” involves “pushing all students toward average achievement”
3   Strict oversight, monitoring and transparent public reporting
4   Checklists — http://www.parentsteachingparents.net/2015/12/what-happened-to-effective-schools-checklist/

Furthermore, I see that two of the authors of this report, Hanushek and Woessmann, have produced a similar type of paper for the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) — UNIVERSAL BASIC SKILLS: What Countries Stand To Gain— http://hanushek.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/publications/Universal_Basic_Skills_WEF.pdf

In the Editorial to this paper, Andreas Schleicher, Director of PISA, says the 15-year aim is toward “improving the quality of schools so that every student reaches at least the baseline Level 1 performance on the PISA scale — where students demonstrate elementary skills to read and understand simple texts and master basic mathematical and scientific concepts and procedures.”

Of course, speaking internationally, money will be an issue because there are some very poor countries involved.  Much improvement in education systems, in rich or poor countries, will depend on credible standardized measurements of progress to stay in place.  At the same time as the world is reaching out to help all children attain some traction on the world’s economic stage, it is the education establishment that stands in the way by strenuously avoiding being measured and held accountable.

As long as the goalposts don’t change there’s hope yet for our future generations !

{ A reminder:  Please read the previous post and comments on the same theme —  Purpose of Education. ]

Why is it that education leaders (and publishers) have such sway in determining education trends and fads? This makes teachers look like a very sheepish bunch. Teachers have instant access to information - research, studies, theories, programs, organizations,blogs, etc. It’s really not too hard to find out the most effective method of teaching beginning reading, for example.
We need a generation of teachers who can step outside the box and lead others by example. A generation that will see themselves throw of the shackles of unions and education leaders.

I’m not sure if this is a link I was looking for. I was reading your post in QUALITY SCHOOLS’  on denying education for special needs/pretty much any child who is falling behind. I have an unusual experience in that, I have been denied teaching with IBI/ABA for my severely math learning disability students. Funny thing, as the school district paid for my course. I had worked with other students previously and made outstanding gains, however those students had more severe disabilities and I suppose how I taught was acceptable because it was resource related rather that regular classroom, normal learning issues.  When I told the teacher what I could do, I was complimented and even asked for my materials, but almost instantly denied access to the students. So I thought, well, I don’t want to get that teacher in trouble. I think it is important that she be in charge of her class. So I let it ride and the next year, I hit middle school. Yay! I get a different teacher. Nothing ready for my students, whom I knew very well. So I got busy and almost immediately, instructed to work with old worksheets that we use until the cows come home!  lol…  I been sneaking in as much as I can in spare time, but I definitely have to follow what the boss says. Hard to make any gains.