Comments on: Run harder or quit Race to the Top? http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/03/14/run-harder-or-quit-race-to-the-top/ 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/2010/03/14/run-harder-or-quit-race-to-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-7445 Gary Ravani Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:50:20 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1475#comment-7445 I could respond with a lengthy piece refuting all the old tired nostrums repeated here. Teachers are afraid of accountability, yadda, yadda. High standards, raise the bar, align the assessments, yadda, yadda. Bold leadership and moving forward in our huge, complex, overburdened system without broad support. Right. Let's just say this: 46th in cost-of living weighted dollars per student for K-12 (before the current cuts are factored in). What kind of "standard" is that? And for those who have influence or some measure of control over this (not teachers certainly) who is going to stand up and be accountable? I could respond with a lengthy piece refuting all the old tired nostrums repeated here. Teachers are afraid of accountability, yadda, yadda. High standards, raise the bar, align the assessments, yadda, yadda.

Bold leadership and moving forward in our huge, complex, overburdened system without broad support. Right.

Let’s just say this: 46th in cost-of living weighted dollars per student for K-12 (before the current cuts are factored in). What kind of “standard” is that? And for those who have influence or some measure of control over this (not teachers certainly) who is going to stand up and be accountable?

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]]> By: David B. Cohen http://toped.svefoundation.org/2010/03/14/run-harder-or-quit-race-to-the-top/comment-page-1/#comment-7402 David B. Cohen Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:23:10 +0000 http://educatedguess.org/blog/?p=1475#comment-7402 The debate about RTTT is an interesting and important one, and it certainly engages those of us with an interest in these matters. Most Californians haven't heard of it, and if we "win" in the next round, most Californians won't see any benefits. The discussion right now should be about the catastrophic under-funding our education system, not just a little bit of money that will never hit the classroom anyways. It's like the whole house is on fire and we're debating about the best type of hand-held fire extinguishers. Will there be any Republican legislators willing to take any revenue-generating steps to avert disaster? We will pay one way or another - education, or worker shortages and lost productivity? Schools, or prisons? Amazing that the party that claims to be more business savvy can't understand that the investments we fail to make right now will cost us more in the future. The debate about RTTT is an interesting and important one, and it certainly engages those of us with an interest in these matters. Most Californians haven’t heard of it, and if we “win” in the next round, most Californians won’t see any benefits.

The discussion right now should be about the catastrophic under-funding our education system, not just a little bit of money that will never hit the classroom anyways.

It’s like the whole house is on fire and we’re debating about the best type of hand-held fire extinguishers.

Will there be any Republican legislators willing to take any revenue-generating steps to avert disaster? We will pay one way or another – education, or worker shortages and lost productivity? Schools, or prisons? Amazing that the party that claims to be more business savvy can’t understand that the investments we fail to make right now will cost us more in the future.

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