Comments on: What works in middle schools http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/ Analysis, opinion and ruminations on California education policy Wed, 30 May 2012 07:31:37 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gary Ravani http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6211 Gary Ravani Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:56:19 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6211 To the "Reader:" Certainly I will try to at least be as noble as Diane Ravitch in repudiating my prior statements and beliefs if, indeed, Reed Hastings has also had an epiphany and is now proposing to have the taxes of the very wealthy and corporations raised in order to support schools and social services to the poor. I would, if this was the case, owe Mr. Hastings an apology. A call for higher taxes in the Wall Street Journal. That is interesting. I always supposed it was impossible for leopards to change their spots and get jobs as jersey cows, but what do I know? Now, if he could just quit messing around with public school via his minions at EdVoice it would be an absolute miracle. I would burn votive candles in front of his image. To the “Reader:”

Certainly I will try to at least be as noble as Diane Ravitch in repudiating my prior statements and beliefs if, indeed, Reed Hastings has also had an epiphany and is now proposing to have the taxes of the very wealthy and corporations raised in order to support schools and social services to the poor. I would, if this was the case, owe Mr. Hastings an apology. A call for higher taxes in the Wall Street Journal. That is interesting. I always supposed it was impossible for leopards to change their spots and get jobs as jersey cows, but what do I know? Now, if he could just quit messing around with public school via his minions at EdVoice it would be an absolute miracle. I would burn votive candles in front of his image.

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]]> By: Reader http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6169 Reader Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:52:54 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6169 Mr. Ravani: Before you accuse Mr. Hastings of "justifying some silver bullet solution that excuses them from paying the kinds of taxes that would pay for the schools they say they want," you may want to take a look at the New York Times op-ed he wrote last year titled, "Please Raise My Taxes." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06hastings.html In it, Mr. Hastings advocates "creating a top federal marginal tax rate of 50 percent on all income above $1 million per year," concluding, "Instead of trying to shame companies and executives, the president should take advantage of our success by using our outsized earnings to pay for the needs of our nation." Mr. Ravani: Before you accuse Mr. Hastings of “justifying some silver bullet solution that excuses them from paying the kinds of taxes that would pay for the schools they say they want,” you may want to take a look at the New York Times op-ed he wrote last year titled, “Please Raise My Taxes.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06hastings.html

In it, Mr. Hastings advocates “creating a top federal marginal tax rate of 50 percent on all income above $1 million per year,” concluding, “Instead of trying to shame companies and executives, the president should take advantage of our success by using our outsized earnings to pay for the needs of our nation.”

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]]> By: CarolineSF http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6154 CarolineSF Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:07:15 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6154 "One of the shortcomings of being a DC think tanker is the remove from classrooms, schools, and districts." -- Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute on his new blog. ... I maintain that that quote should be emblazoned on the business cards and perhaps tattooed on the foreheads of the Hastingses, Gateses, Broads et al., as well as those of the think-tankers. That also goes for those commentators who make pronouncements about education without setting foot in schools and while refusing to listen to educators. ... And while I'm at it, may I recommend Diane Ravitch's new book. It's so new that my preordered copy arrived yesterday; I've read about half of it: "The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education." Ravitch examines how she herself was seduced by the privatization/choice/free-market/charter fads, the magic feather/silver bullet notion, and how she came to realize that entire notion was wrong. "The more I saw, the more I lost the faith," she writes. "... In view of the money and power now arrayed on behalf of the ideas and programs that I will criticize [in the book], I hope it is not too late." “One of the shortcomings of being a DC think tanker is the remove from classrooms, schools, and districts.” — Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute on his new blog. … I maintain that that quote should be emblazoned on the business cards and perhaps tattooed on the foreheads of the Hastingses, Gateses, Broads et al., as well as those of the think-tankers. That also goes for those commentators who make pronouncements about education without setting foot in schools and while refusing to listen to educators. … And while I’m at it, may I recommend Diane Ravitch’s new book. It’s so new that my preordered copy arrived yesterday; I’ve read about half of it: “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education.” Ravitch examines how she herself was seduced by the privatization/choice/free-market/charter fads, the magic feather/silver bullet notion, and how she came to realize that entire notion was wrong. “The more I saw, the more I lost the faith,” she writes. “… In view of the money and power now arrayed on behalf of the ideas and programs that I will criticize [in the book], I hope it is not too late.”

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]]> By: Gary Ravani http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6143 Gary Ravani Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:49:05 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6143 Having spent 31 of my 35 years in the classroom at middle school I am always interested in studies of what people think is going on there. The most striking comment to me is "middle schools have been an enigma." Indeed. I must say that for an almost compulsive meddler in education issues Reed Hastings runs a pretty good video rental company. He,along with Bill Gates, should stick to their areas of expertise. A key element of success is for the schools to "focus on key standards." An intersting finding in light of the fact that the CA legislature has bought a classic "pig in a poke" and adopted the new national standards, whatever they are. There is also the "narrowing of the curriculum" issue. If the state tests are based on the standards and you're teaching to the standards then you're teaching to the test. Not a bad thing if the tests are good. CA's tests weren't adopted because they were good. They were adopted because they were cheap. And the standards are supposed to be "world class" because they are "rigorous." Better that they be instructionally appropriate. The issue of "like" schools performing at "unlike" levels of achievement? Just because there are superficial indications of similarity, 90% free lunch for example, doesn't mean they are the same in circumstances. Some communities are more equal then others. They may have more "social capital," differing levels of parent employment, different crime levels, have or not have charismatic community leaders, have differing levels of student transiency, etc. Just like some sports teams look good on paper you have to look behind the numbers and read between the lines or you will lose many bets. Any time I see some indicator of giving principals dictatorial control of a school I see someone who doesn't understand how principals become principals. When I see a study like this I see Reed Hastings and other mega-rich business types justifying some silver bullet solution that excuses them from paying the kinds of taxes that would pay for the schools they say they want. Conclusion? Yadda-yadda-yadda. Having spent 31 of my 35 years in the classroom at middle school I am always interested in studies of what people think is going on there.

The most striking comment to me is “middle schools have been an enigma.” Indeed.

I must say that for an almost compulsive meddler in education issues Reed Hastings runs a pretty good video rental company. He,along with Bill Gates, should stick to their areas of expertise.

A key element of success is for the schools to “focus on key standards.” An intersting finding in light of the fact that the CA legislature has bought a classic “pig in a poke” and adopted the new national standards, whatever they are.

There is also the “narrowing of the curriculum” issue. If the state tests are based on the standards and you’re teaching to the standards then you’re teaching to the test. Not a bad thing if the tests are good. CA’s tests weren’t adopted because they were good. They were adopted because they were cheap. And the standards are supposed to be “world class” because they are “rigorous.” Better that they be instructionally appropriate.

The issue of “like” schools performing at “unlike” levels of achievement? Just because there are superficial indications of similarity, 90% free lunch for example, doesn’t mean they are the same in circumstances. Some communities are more equal then others. They may have more “social capital,” differing levels of parent employment, different crime levels, have or not have charismatic community leaders, have differing levels of student transiency, etc. Just like some sports teams look good on paper you have to look behind the numbers and read between the lines or you will lose many bets.

Any time I see some indicator of giving principals dictatorial control of a school I see someone who doesn’t understand how principals become principals.

When I see a study like this I see Reed Hastings and other mega-rich business types justifying some silver bullet solution that excuses them from paying the kinds of taxes that would pay for the schools they say they want.

Conclusion? Yadda-yadda-yadda.

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]]> By: John Fensterwald http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6133 John Fensterwald Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:46:37 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6133 The EdSource study found no correlation between the configuration of the school (K-8, 5-8, 7-8) and results on the state standardized tests. That was one of the key points in the report. The survey did not explicitly ask about length of day or school year; I agree that it would have been helpful. There were questions about parent involvement and extracurricular activities and a positive connection between both and successful schools. You can read the detailed study at http://www.edsource.org/middle-grades-study.html The EdSource study found no correlation between the configuration of the school (K-8, 5-8, 7-8) and results on the state standardized tests. That was one of the key points in the report. The survey did not explicitly ask about length of day or school year; I agree that it would have been helpful. There were questions about parent involvement and extracurricular activities and a positive connection between both and successful schools. You can read the detailed study at http://www.edsource.org/middle-grades-study.html

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]]> By: Lee Ayres http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/02/23/what-works-in-middle-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-6128 Lee Ayres Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:31:11 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1361#comment-6128 Suggest that EdSource compare student achievement in 7-8 middle schools with student achievement in the 5-8 and K-8 schools. Four other factors would be useful to study and compare: student mobility rates, length of the school year, percentage of parents who are engaged in the students work and the operation of the school, and the percentage of students engaged in a mentoring activity like sports and the arts. Thanks, Lee Suggest that EdSource compare student achievement in 7-8 middle schools with student achievement in the 5-8 and K-8 schools. Four other factors would be useful to study and compare: student mobility rates, length of the school year, percentage of parents who are engaged in the students work and the operation of the school, and the percentage of students engaged in a mentoring activity like sports and the arts. Thanks, Lee

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