Re: Figures Don't Lie - Iowa Rules!

[David Blomstrom <GeoBear@GEOBOP.COM>]

At 07:11 PM 2/2/2001 -0500, you wrote:

> "I think your table is quite informative.  I wouldn't put too much faith
> in the Quality Counts evaluations, though. . . . Even if there are not
> overt sanctions for low performing schools or rewards for the successes,
> the jobs of principals in under-performing schools become increasingly
> insecure."

Hmmmm... that suggests another variable that ought to be researched for
each state - the number of principals and teachers that have been driven
out of the profession by high-stakes tests and whether or not that has any
bearing on academic performance. Through Seattle's corporate media, we were
told that our schools were improving under the late Supt. John Stanford,
even though teacher morale had never been lower, and Stanford actually
ruined two of our best schools through sheer arrogance and stupidity.

In the midst of a school levy campaign, we're not being told that our
schools are STILL IMPROVING, even though we have a record shortage of
teachers, substitutes and principals, with the principal shortage slated to
get worse still next year.

This suggests to me that, if we could drive three quarters of our teachers
and principals out of the district and make those who remain run five miles
during their lunch break, our schools will be the best in the nation.

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