What Do You Think?
Facing the Hard Facts in Education Reform
A policy information perspective from The Educational Testing Service
Mr. Barton suggests that educational policies and practices that influence test scores must be aligned with testing, or the scores are can be misinterpreted, and those who have not benefitted from the system will be blamed. What curricula or textbooks are chosen dont matter if there is chaos in the classroom, creating an environment not conducive to learning anything.
Barton is critical of the emphasis on accountability and the misuse of standardized tests as the sole
measure of student success, and considers the following significantly missing from the educational debate
and legislation:
1. Student Behavior:
Disruptive student behavior is increasingly interfering with teaching and the learning environment of the classroom;
2. Messages about Learning and Achievement:
A student is motivated to learn and achieve at high levels by the messages he/she receives from the family, the community, employer, and culture-- not just from teachers and the school.
3.Learning Outside the School: There must be a recognition
of sources of learning outside the school that have a significant impact on
student achievement.
In addition, the great potential of computers is not close to being realized.
Barton is critical of the emphasis on accountability and the misuse of standardized tests as the sole
measure of student success, and considers the following significantly missing from the educational debate
and legislation:
1. Student Behavior:
Disruptive student behavior is increasingly interfering with teaching and the learning environment of the classroom;
2. Messages about Learning and Achievement:
A student is motivated to learn and achieve at high levels by the messages he/she receives from the family, the community, employer, and culture-- not just from teachers and the school.
3.Learning Outside the School: There must be a recognition
of sources of learning outside the school that have a significant impact on
student achievement.
In addition, the great potential of computers is not close to being realized.