Diane Ravitch's article on the latest PISA results

[adnelson60087]

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2010/12/the_real_lessons_of_pisa.html

These two systems are diametrically opposed in one sense: Shanghai relies heavily on testing to meet its goals; Finland emphasizes child-centered methods. Yet they have these important things in common: Neither of them does what the United States is now promoting: They do not hand students over to privately managed schools; they do not accept teachers who do not intend to make teaching their profession; they do not have principals who are non-educators; they do not have superintendents who are non-educators; they do not "turn around" schools by closing them or privatizing them; they do not "improve" schools by firing the principal or the teachers. They respect their teachers. They focus relentlessly on improving teaching and learning, as it is defined in their culture and society.

The lesson of PISA is this: Neither of the world's highest-performing nations do what our "reformers" want to do. How long will it take before our political leaders begin to listen to educators? How long will it take before they realize that their strategies have not worked anywhere? How long will it be before they stop inflicting their bad ideas on our schools, our students, our teachers, and American education?

_________________


Honestly, it seems to me that if Obama and his ilk were really concerned with helping kids and schools, they would really look at the Finland model, which is a true PROGRESSIVE vision according to Diane's article. How we've gotten to this point is very telling. "Free Market" education will be the end of American public education if left unchecked.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Guess Shanghai and Finland sincerely want their kids to get good educations...and

thereby become productive and valued citizens. Here in the US... not so much. Profit is the only goal.
And an uneducated citizenry are more easily manipulated...the repukes' wet dream