Generally the people who say you won't necessarily get good results by throwing money at a problem are talking about a problem that doesn't confront them directly and immediately. When it does, like schools in their expensive suburbs and their prestigious universities, they throw lots of money at the problem.
Who complied the Boston data, Daniel? It would seem to contradict the other data to which I lined - or at least be an exception. As for what you say, Anonymous, is the money at those suburban schools and prestigious universities going to education or to the plant. I suspect the relation between spending and improved performance by students is unproved.
Okay, folks. Trust me. I've spent time in the trenches (i.e., in the classrooms as a teacher) and money is not the problem. Students, families, and teachers are the problems. Students do not aim high enough often enough, families too frequently have little or no interest in their children's education, and too many teachers have no business being in the classroom but should instead be employed as retail clerks or food service workers where they can tap into their actual potential. Well, was that direct enough? Too harsh? Ah, reality is like that!
But then again, maybe it's an important piece of the puzzle:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/11/03/Boston_public_schools/
The fact that we allow the public conversation about education to be dominated by a false dichotomy is absurd and weak-minded.
Generally the people who say you won't necessarily get good results by throwing money at a problem are talking about a problem that doesn't confront them directly and immediately. When it does, like schools in their expensive suburbs and their prestigious universities, they throw lots of money at the problem.
ReplyDeleteWho complied the Boston data, Daniel? It would seem to contradict the other data to which I lined - or at least be an exception.
ReplyDeleteAs for what you say, Anonymous, is the money at those suburban schools and prestigious universities going to education or to the plant. I suspect the relation between spending and improved performance by students is unproved.
Okay, folks. Trust me. I've spent time in the trenches (i.e., in the classrooms as a teacher) and money is not the problem. Students, families, and teachers are the problems. Students do not aim high enough often enough, families too frequently have little or no interest in their children's education, and too many teachers have no business being in the classroom but should instead be employed as retail clerks or food service workers where they can tap into their actual potential. Well, was that direct enough? Too harsh? Ah, reality is like that!
ReplyDelete