Comments on: Bungled by Design http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/27/bungled-by-design/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Linda/Retired Teacher http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/27/bungled-by-design/comment-page-1/#comment-186127 Linda/Retired Teacher Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:44:03 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21912#comment-186127 Aaron, when I was in graduate school in the early 1970s, I could see that much educational research was not worth the paper it was written on. There were just so many variables that couldn't be controlled. I always wondered why scholars bothered with this useless "research" and concluded that they needed to do it to get a Ph.D. or tenure. In regard to the research you are referring to, why would the scholars agree to use the test scores offered by the Office of Education when almost everyone understands that these scores are highly suspect, to say the least? Why doesn't the university do its own testing? Why is this type of scholarship accepted by the academic community? Aaron, when I was in graduate school in the early 1970s, I could see that much educational research was not worth the paper it was written on. There were just so many variables that couldn’t be controlled. I always wondered why scholars bothered with this useless “research” and concluded that they needed to do it to get a Ph.D. or tenure.

In regard to the research you are referring to, why would the scholars agree to use the test scores offered by the Office of Education when almost everyone understands that these scores are highly suspect, to say the least? Why doesn’t the university do its own testing? Why is this type of scholarship accepted by the academic community?

]]> By: True Believer http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/27/bungled-by-design/comment-page-1/#comment-184761 True Believer Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:45:45 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21912#comment-184761 The flaws in this study that you so thoughtfully and clearly explain should be required reading for everyone. I am dismayed that the Race to the Top federal grant program plans to require states to link student test scores not only to teachers and principals, but to the programs that prepared them. This is not only faulty and flawed by design, it's immoral. Judging by comments and reactions to the program, summarized quite well here: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2009/08/race_to_the_top_comments_are_i.html this issue doesn't appear to be on the radar screen of the states or anyone as a matter of concern. It seems institutions of higher education are asleep at the wheel, about to drive right off the road and into a ditch, or worse, off a cliff. The flaws in this study that you so thoughtfully and clearly explain should be required reading for everyone. I am dismayed that the Race to the Top federal grant program plans to require states to link student test scores not only to teachers and principals, but to the programs that prepared them. This is not only faulty and flawed by design, it’s immoral. Judging by comments and reactions to the program, summarized quite well here: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2009/08/race_to_the_top_comments_are_i.html this issue doesn’t appear to be on the radar screen of the states or anyone as a matter of concern. It seems institutions of higher education are asleep at the wheel, about to drive right off the road and into a ditch, or worse, off a cliff.

]]> By: Aaron Pallas http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/27/bungled-by-design/comment-page-1/#comment-182228 Aaron Pallas Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:31:52 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21912#comment-182228 Although this might seem like a sensible strategy, the fact that the Learning Environment Surveys are used for School Progress Reports makes them highly suspect for research purposes. Since schools which receive low grades on the Progress Reports face closure, parents and teachers have incentives to distort their true opinions. Although this might seem like a sensible strategy, the fact that the Learning Environment Surveys are used for School Progress Reports makes them highly suspect for research purposes. Since schools which receive low grades on the Progress Reports face closure, parents and teachers have incentives to distort their true opinions.

]]> By: mr g http://gothamschools.org/2009/08/27/bungled-by-design/comment-page-1/#comment-181873 mr g Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:38:06 +0000 http://gothamschools.org/?p=21912#comment-181873 Perhaps the study could have looked at the Surveys filled out by students, staff and parents to evaluate a somewhat broader mission of school principal. These surveys were available to the researchers as they are posted online. Perhaps the study could have looked at the Surveys filled out by students, staff and parents to evaluate a somewhat broader mission of school principal. These surveys were available to the researchers as they are posted online.

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