Re: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook

["Allen Flanigan." <Allen.Flanigan@USPTO.GOV>]

ASCD takes positions on issues (like a political party has a platform).  The
Democratic party is not going to listen very closely to criticisms of its
platform from Republicans, although the Republicans are free to criticize.
Members of the Democratic party should express their opinions to ensure that
the platform of their party reflects some sort of consensus (undoubtedly
imperfect and compromised) of their members.  Similarly ASCD's position on
various issues should hopefully reflect the opinions of their members.  You
can complain about their positions, but they aren't obligated to consider
them in formulating such positions unless you are a member of their
organization.

 -----Original Message-----
From: judih@OUSD.K12.CA.US [mailto:judih@OUSD.K12.CA.US]
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 11:01 AM
To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU
Subject: Re: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook



why does one need to be a "dues-paying member" to speak out against
something? does this mean I can't complain about Falwell or the KKK?
Judi

----- Original Message -----
From: Allen Flanigan. <mailto:Allen.Flanigan@USPTO.GOV>
To: ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU <mailto:ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 6:57 AM
Subject: Re: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook

Hey, no need to be circumspect.  If you are a "dues-paying member" you have
a right to speak out against Wiggins' or anyone else's babble.  And I
appreciate the fact that you do!

Allen F.

-----Original Message-----
From: Wcala@SERVTECH.COM <mailto:Wcala@SERVTECH.COM>  [
mailto:Wcala@SERVTECH.COM <mailto:Wcala@SERVTECH.COM> ]
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 7:52 AM
To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU <mailto:ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU>
Subject: Re: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook


Allen,

I have been an ASCD member for @# years!  Some publications I use
constantly,  Constructivist education by Brooks and Brooks, Brain research
by Caine and Caine etc.  This recent spate of assessment support is causing
great concern.  While not quite ready to tear up the check, I'm getting
close.  The last ASCD piece that sent me over the edge was Grant Wiggins'
babble (I posted on this previously).  I am interested in our ARN friends'
thoughts on these high schools.

I will be patient and circumspect.

Thanks

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: Allen Flanigan. <mailto:Allen.Flanigan@USPTO.GOV>
To: ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU <mailto:ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook

Bill,

I happen to know one fellow who served for a time as editor of an ASCD's
Educational Leadership, a very knowledgeable gentleman named Ron Brandt (now
retired).  I know he does not buy into the "test scores uber alles"
mentality, and I hope that there may be others at ASCD who don't, either.
Unless you're sure they are all singing from the same hymnal regarding
testing issues, it may be premature to call for pulling the plug on ASCD.

You can check out their website at www.ascd.org <http://www.ascd.org>  to
see what kind of front they put up for the public.  Don't know how well it
coincides with the messages they send out in lobbying Congress and so forth.

Allen Flanigan

[Flanigan, Allen]  -----Original Message-----
From: Wcala@SERVTECH.COM [mailto:Wcala@SERVTECH.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 7:41 AM
To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU
Subject: ASCD's The Results Fieldbook



I just received The Results Book from ASCD by Mike Schmoker.  Adlai
Stevenson High School in Illinois, Milwaukee Public Schools, Oak Park in
Detroit, Glendale Union High School in Arizona and Brazosport in Houston.

All of these schools have made  "......momentous discovery. When teachers
regularly and collaboratively review assessment data for the purpose of
improving practice to reach measurable achievement goals, something magical
happens."

Shall we translate? When you look at nothing more than test scores and focus
ALL of your energy on those scores and you no longer teach but manage your
classroom to be a drill and kill test prep center, your meaningless
standardized test scores will improve.

As the schools mentioned above are all in areas of ARN participants, I am
sure there will be other sides to this picture of enlightenment.

It may be time to pull the plug on ASCD.  I'm not sure how many more of
these 'testing equals education' tomes I can stomach.

BC