Only in a place as divorced from reality as Seattle, and in a school district as dysfunctional (and loopy) as Seattle's, could the original change ever have occurred in the first place. Who in their right mind could possibly think it was a good idea?
Update, 10/14/08: Joanne gets a two-fer as far as Seattle goes, adding this post to the one above.
Ted Nutting, a calculus teacher in Seattle, blames “reform math” for students’ low achievement. Specifically, he blames Terry Bergeson, superintendent of public instruction in Washington state, for overseeing the development of “weak, vague math standards” based on a reform model.
“Only in a place as divorced from reality as Seattle, and in a school district as dysfunctional (and loopy) as Seattle's, could the original change ever have occurred in the first place. Who in their right mind could possibly think it was a good idea?"
ReplyDeleteCome on Darren, you know who…the people smarter than you and I…just ask, they will tell you they are smarter than you while asking for more of your money!
Detroit! Number! One!
ReplyDeleteThe Detroit Public Schools stands second to none in its poor functioning and loopiness.
At the same time the central administration building was getting $70/yard carpet and $250,000 of "art" (the parenthesis are necessary to indicate that while there wasn't any doubt about the funds, what was being paid for was not nearly as clear) there were buildings without toilet paper, books and roofs that didn't leak.
I think this, and numerous other, similar incidents puts DPS firmly beneath the Seattle school district in any measurement of competence.
P.S. The story doesn't have a headline.
"Who in their right mind could possibly think it was a good idea?"
ReplyDeleteThat is the question, isn't it, and I believe it answers itself.