|
|
Interversity Quotes"I think it's time to ask the Standardistos: Where's the test for compassion? For honesty? For curiosity? For moral commitment? Until they can answer, let's tell them to shut up." —Susan Ohanian (One Size Fits Few: The Folly of Educational Standards) Interversity ProjectsEchoes of Orwell:The purpose of this webforum is to promote a lively discussion among students and faculty alike about George Orwell's 1984 and the parallels or echoes found in today's society. |
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] grade level
Re: a modest reform, all children at grade level. Historically, the definition of "grade level" has been the score of the average (median) child in that grade. By definition, then, 50% of all children are always below grade level. In my 40-year career, I have never seen a meaningful definition in other terms although you and Secretary Spellings use it as something that 100% of the children attain. Could you please supply a meaningful definition that 100% of children can reach? NCLB, by the way, does mention grade level. It talks in terms of proficient. It demands 100% proficiency by 2014. Suggested reading: Richard Rothstein, et alia, "Proficiency for All: An Oxymoron." To give you further info on this, I attach "A test everyone will fail" which I published in the Washington Post in May. Don't know if you have kids, but pediatricians tell mems that their kids are in the say, 75th percentile of height or 43rd percentile of weight. They don't have a definition of normal as anything other than normative. Pick a dimension: human beings will vary. For concrete illustrations see Linda Perlstein, Tested: An American School Struggles to Make the Grade or Susan Eaton, The Children in Room E4. Gerald W. Bracey Alexandria, VA
Post a Message to arn-l: |
eric |