Accountability II

Well, I'm sure there are oodles of studies that show different findings. Here is one that is not like to be reported in the MSM, but was published in the Education Weekly 6/17/09. It may help explain some of the other reports:

Since the No Child Left Behind Act was enacted, critics have questioned whether the law’s mandate to bring students to "proficiency" has resulted in schools ignoring the needs of the nation’s highest- and lowest-achieving students. A new study, released today, suggests those fears have not become reality.

The 50-state analysis found that test scores for both "advanced" and "basic" students rose in nearly three-quarters of assessments studied across states and grade levels, a level of progress only slightly lower than that of students reaching proficiency. See the whole story here: http://tinyurl.com/mrjvtq

You say potato, I say potato. Ira Gershwin.

Would that be Jay Green, chair of the University of Arkansas' education reform department. Green and Greg Forster, both senior fellows at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.

(holler) Next!

"Manhattan Institute for Policy Research
The Manhattan Institute (MI) is a right-wing 501(c)(3) non-profit think tank founded in 1978 by William J. Casey, who later became President Ronald Reagan's CIA director.

The Manhattan Institute is "focused on promoting free-market principles whose mission is to 'develop and disseminate new ideas that foster greater economic choice and individual responsibility.'

"The Manhattan Institute concerns itself with such things as 'welfare reform' (dismantling social programs), 'faith-based initiatives' (blurring the distinction between church and state), and 'education reform' (destroying public education)," Kurt Nimmo wrote October 10, 2002, in CounterPunch."

Note: From Sourcewatch. There is more including a VERY illuminating history among other things. I'd include an url but abc doesn't like that.

(holler) Next!

from PR Watch
"Briton Antony Fisher founded Atlas as part of his lifelong campaign to influence the "climate of ideas" and combat "creeping socialism." Atlas credits Fisher with assisting in the early stages of development of several conservative think tanks, including the Manhattan Institute, Pacific Research Institute in San Francisco and Fraser Institute in Vancouver, Canada."

and

"...FSU's School Choice Center is using federal money to "make parents aware of all choice programs, including traditional magnet schools, expand the number of choice schools in the state, and help them 'work the media.'" The Post reports, "links on the Web site are almost entirely to studies and articles from conservative groups and strong school-choice proponents such as the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Education Reform and the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research."

I know that as a responsible journalist, Mr. Stossel wouldn't want to ...confuse anyone so I thought I would help but pointing out some background.

With Charter schools, the state loses its largest indoctrination machine: public schools. There is an all out war on home schooling, because the state cannot indoctrinate what they can't control for six hours a day. Why is education state run? Why are we entrusting the future of our country to a bunch of burnt-out tenured teachers who cling to their unions to protect their jobs, rather than admitting they are terrible at what they do? Education jobs are like the lottery.... get lucky enough to get one, play the game and you have a job for life. What other industry that competes has this system of obsolescence built right in?

Green's University of Arkansas position is in a department created by the largest donation ever given to a college, which happened to be from the Walton family, big time voucher & charter school advocates, and Forbes' top billionaires #3, 4, & 5. I guess with Green they are getting what they paid for.

“Walton money also paid for half the cost of establishing the UA's Department of Education Reform and hiring Greene.”

http://www.waltoninfluence.com/influence/news-archive/the_wal_mart_effect

And as far as the study being "unfair to charter schools because more of their students began school with problems," all I have to say is boo hoo.

My experience w/charter schools here in Oakland is that the parents who are drawn to them are some of the more pro-active parents, as far as their kids' educations go. I’ve also discovered those parents have a higher average education level. Oh yeah, and the charter schools manage to avoid having as many special ed kids, as well as kids who tend to be the most disruptive; they just boot them out so the public schools are forced to deal with them. Of course, there is no reciprocity.

So even when serving kids who have parents who are more "together," the charters can't still seem to do much better. I thought they were the perfect solution to all those "terrible" public schools, so what’s their problem, man?

I'm putting this back here to ease your (apparently) delicate sensibilities, Mr. Stossel, where you may or may not see it.

I looked up your birthday on wikipedia because I was pretty sure I was older than you and thought I would use that but that turned out not to be the case; hence the reference to Mr. instead of just Stossel However.

It seems your brother is affiliated with the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and you didn't disclose that you had such a close connection to the Manhattan Institute when you used one of their tentacles as a prop and source for your story. That's dishonest and deceptive and for some reason I didn't expect that level of deceit even after everything else you've written.

If you know why republicans and libertarians consider themselves pinnacles of perfection and see evil in everyone else (projection of the dark side of their own character, maybe?), you might want to turn it into a story. I won't be watching after reading through your blog for a while but due to the reinforcement and self satisfaction that it will enhance I'm sure your core audience will enjoy it immensely. Bye.

I'm going to apologize for some of what I said here. I went too far for even me. On the other hand, one can't help but notice that you seem to have plenty of devotees who are unable to stop to take a critical look and far too ready to cheer you on about anything you say. I'm saying that with a touch of irony. Conservatives? You haven't been where I've been and heard what I've heard. What I said about conservatives stands.

...Oh yeah. Bye and this time I won't be back.