Thursday, November 20, 2008
Bob talks with Salon sports writer and Bob Edwards Show regular King Kaufman about sports. Then, a visit with legendary composer, producer and musicianQuincy Jones. And, finally, SIRIUS XM’s classical music expert Martin Goldsmith talks with Bob about composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. This year, Bernstein would have turned 90.
Mr. Edwards:
As a forewarning, I am a teacher employed by a large school district in California. Please excuse my bias.
With regard to November 19, 2008’s, program highlighting Clay Risen’s interview of Washington, D.C., Chancellor of Schools Michelle Rhee, I suggest that either Mr. Risen did not do the topic justice, or that Ms Rhee should consider additional factors affecting education prior to her moving forward with "reforming" Education. I suspect the later after hearing her brief resume.
Such factors would include teacher accountability. Holding accountable teachers for their students’ test scores is a lot like holding accountable farmers for the sky producing rain. Teachers do not assign students to classes, nor do they select the topics, tools, nor methods employed to convey information supposed to generate conceptual understandings. Those responsibilities are the domain of the State, and/or local school district officers. Second, unless and until we have in place a national business-agenda including a set of strategic and tactical plans that further our country’s economic ambitions, education and educators will have nothing to bind their functions with the completion of goals to an end. "Ask not what we did yesterday. Ask what we will do in 20 years", might be an effective mantra to start. Third, we must answer the question: "Are we a nation, or a loose confederation of states?" If we are a nation, why do we not amend our Constitution to reflect that status? If we are an aggregate of states, then the Federal government might consider what the Reserved Powers clause was designed to do.
I believe in the notion of reform, educational or otherwise. I also understand that in order to reform a system, one must understand the system, not only the system’s parts. One must ask: "What is the form now?", then: "What form do we desire?", and finally: "What will be the outcome(s) if change is completed." I heard none of this from Mr. Risen –nor from Ms Rhee.