Comments on: Gates will fight for national standards and make national tests

By: Al Rode

Al Rode — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:02:02 +0000

“A poor test that students do poorly on.”
Rather than focus on the test, why not focus on students. How about giving public schools free textbooks that are at least as good as the textbooks in Singapore? It would be far cheaper and more productive than a rain dance.

By: dan dempsey

dan dempsey — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:06:46 +0000

In math is this really as difficult as a Foundation may make it?

Singapore with over 50% of their school age population coming from homes in which English is not the primary language teaches all math in English. Singapore leads the world in k-8 math results. Singpaore is now projected to pass Hong Kong with the most millionaires per capita within 10 years.
Seems like a no brainer to adopt the Singapore Math standards and materials. Why not just do the obvious?

By: SCOTT HORN

SCOTT HORN — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:02:44 +0000

I’m all for national standards and testing but not form Bill Gates or any other foundation. Check his relationships and foundation members resumes before you swallow the KoolAid. Their socialistic views and members will make their efforts a failure. They are phlilantrhopists that are wielding their view by spending money. John Deasy ( 2 out of 4 years on a contract just joined their ranks and is the same as the “…impatient optimist..” Billy has branded himself. Good anf lasting change takes time and commitment. Both these men are too impatient to become lasting arbiters of change. And distrust of all foundations is well thought out. They are almost always self serving, socialist organizations.

By: alexander

alexander — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:44:00 +0000

kudos for getting into the event, but there’s a long and complicated history to national standards and i think too much gates involvement could distract folks and fan the flames opposed to this.

http://scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/thisweekineducation/2008/11/national-standa.html

By: Larry Berger

Larry Berger — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:17:18 +0000

I think this will prove to be the most important and ambitious aspect of the Gates strategy. Indeed, it seems to me that dramatic success on all the other pillars of the strategy depends on it – because otherwise there are just too many standards in too many states for there to be true innovation in how to teach, assess, train each of the standards. But when the list of standards gets short enough, there is no longer a need to think in terms of “coverage.” Instead teachers can think about teaching real things deeply.

And Bill Gates knows more than anyone the power of a clear industry standard becoming a platform for global innovation.

By: Chaz

Chaz — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:03:40 +0000

I am all for national standards. It’s time to stop the dumbing down of State tests and these phony educators taking credit for grade inflation.