Two Roads Diverge for American Education
Published in Kappan Magazine, February 1, 2011
The full article is available as pdf here: http://cl9wc6lx6z.scholar.serialssolutions.com/?sid=google&auinit=AH&aulast=Camins&atitle=Two+roads+diverge+for+American+education&title=Phi+Delta+Kappan&volume=92&issue=5&date=2011&spage=44&issn=0031-7217
We are at a fork in the road in American education. At this moment, we
have to choose which road to travel — and that choice will make all the
difference….. The rush to turn data into a basis for reward and
punishment will undermine, rather than unleash, creativity.
We need to focus not on rewarding individual
superstar teachers, principals, and districts, but on ensuring
and accelerating improvement by all.
Will we settle for some good charter schools for some students?
Will rewarding some teachers for success bring
improvement for all?
Will we use data to inform or control?
Will prescriptive control lead to improvement,
and at what price?
Is democracy for everyone?
