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2010-06-03 Home Front: Politix

States to establish uniform standards for teaching

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Posted by gorb 2010-06-03 03:59|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 Gee, way back in the 80s, the Army's Training and Doctrine Command thought it would probably be a good idea to standardize common tasks across the service so that training at Fort Lewis or Fort Benning in, say, First Aid was consistent, that the training to standard as a measurement for,say, execution of laying mortar rounds was adjudged to the same evaluation level at Fort Hood as at Fort Drum. They also decided to implement a feedback system to evaluate the effectiveness of both that which is trained and how it is trained. If its not working, then actually fix it. Then again the government was playing for the whole thing. Note however, it has been effective in taking kids who were largely not the top of their class in the traditional educational system and molding them into the finest force history has ever seen.

Now why shouldn't 4th grade level arithmetic standards in Farmington New Mexico be any different than in Brockton Massachusetts? Other than the excuses, by those who have been given lots of tax money, which are employed to rationalize their inability to deliver.

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-06-03 07:50|| 2010-06-03 07:50|| Front Page Top

#2 The first iteration will likely be the last that works well to promote actual useful standards. As soon as most states have signed on the effort will be riddled with leftists who will seize control and use it to promulgate the teaching of their favored social policies as the true and correct path for civilization. Not that that will be much different than what goes on in the public schools now mind you.

Posted by AzCat 2010-06-03 10:06|| 2010-06-03 10:06|| Front Page Top

#3 Sounds like they are setting up the ultimate excuse for bad teaching.

"Well its the national standard and we can't change it. Its not our fault Johnny can't read..."

Posted by CrazyFool 2010-06-03 10:11|| 2010-06-03 10:11|| Front Page Top

#4 "Having consistent standards across the states means all of our children are going to be prepared for college and career, regardless of zip code."

Just once Id like to hear some egghead bureaucrat admit that the concept of equal outcome in education is illusionary. Wouldnt it be refreshing, for change, to have some muckity-muck acknowledge that Education is no different then any other institution? Just put away the children are our future speech and admit that equal opportunity is the mandate. Then again, what better way to guaranty perpetual job security and funding then to insist on utopian ideals? And dont forgetits all about the kids.

Posted by DepotGuy 2010-06-03 11:53|| 2010-06-03 11:53|| Front Page Top

#5 Equal outcome is illusory. However that does not invalidate minimum or improved standards for functional citizenry. Let's face it. A lot of public education in this country is crap with no consequences to the taxpayer funded educational establishment for turning out crap and wasted human potential. Why should the teaching profession be exempt from testing, measurement and continuous improvement of their product?

Posted by ed 2010-06-03 12:57|| 2010-06-03 12:57|| Front Page Top

#6 I deeply distrust this. Every villain with an agenda concentrates on corrupting the public schools. Seriously, with a real pedophile as the federal "Safe Schools Czar", *any* initiative taken by *anyone* involving the schools has to be very suspect.

Think of it in terms of the PTA on one side, and Stalinist zampolits on the other side. Utterly ruthless extremists willing to commit the time, effort and energy to get control of children and the teaching curriculum.

Ordinary parents who want their children to have a good education are powerless against such thugs.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-06-03 13:32|| 2010-06-03 13:32|| Front Page Top

#7 Now why shouldn't 4th grade level arithmetic standards in Farmington New Mexico be any different than in Brockton Massachusetts?

Because they won't stop with arithmetic. They'll want to make sure all the history books are "politically correct", etc., etc.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-06-03 16:26|| 2010-06-03 16:26|| Front Page Top

#8 a process that will kick off a new race to the bottom as the least common denominator will become the gold standard of achievement.

if it wasn't for low standards, these folks wouldn't have any standards at all.

Posted by abu do you love 2010-06-03 16:35|| 2010-06-03 16:35|| Front Page Top

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