This article from Governing Magazine provides a nice overview of the National Governors Association’s latest musings on education.
It is not difficult to determine that the NGA speakers did not say anything useful about school reform. Bob Corcoran, president of the GE Foundation, said that states need to develop more rigorous math and science standards. Ok. Sir Ken Robinson, an education consultant, said that schools need to foster creativity. Ok.
On the other hand, Tom Vander Ark, executive director of education programs at the Gates Foundation, is optimistic that the U.S. can achieve a graduation rate of 80 percent by the end of the decade. Whoa, Tom, the key is not to set a quantifiable goal like that – think back to what you and Easley do with the Learn and Earn/Early College/New Schools Project/Gates money grab here in North Carolina. Focus, Tom, focus.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano’s, NGA’s new chair, said, ?Standardized tests should be passable as a natural response…Those engaged in math and science don?t have any problem passing the tests.? Now that is nonsense all of us can embrace.
Hat tip: Coletti
