Class Struggle Archive: Jay on the Web

Dan Goldfarb's evaluation--D.C. schools and Goldfarb respond

Here are two lengthy responses to the Monday column on Dan Goldfarb's teacher evaluation, just above this blog post. First are the thoughts of Jason Kamras, the former national teacher of the year who oversees the IMPACT evaluation program for the D.C. Schools. Second is the response from Goldfarb, the subject of the column. I don't usually provide lengthy notes after every column, but in this case I thought they had many more important things to say. The Web gives journalists a chance to help readers go deeper, and I hope we continue to take advantage of it in this way.

Portfolio exams--wave of the future or big cop-out?

It is clear to me, and I suspect to most readers, that this system inflates achievement scores. Of course, so has the assessment system we have been using in schools since the beginning of public education---teachers grading their own students' work. We seemed to have prospered as a nation despite giving many struggling students a break on their report cards. I don't think portfolios used in this limited way are going to ruin the effort to set strong national standards, but I think it is going to give a big push to the idea of introducing independent inspectors to assess the effectiveness of schools and teachers.

The lost art of walking to school

For a while I lived in probably the safest village in America, Scarsdale, NY. One day, while driving my fourth-grader to school, I saw a rare thing, a 9-year-old riding his bike, his books in the front basket. Then I noticed, right behind him, his mother driving the family Mercedes, making sure he got to school safely.

Algebra and politics: A Marty Weil exclusive

Marty Weil is, I think, the only writer left at the Post who has been around longer than I have. He is the polymath hero of our night-side operation, able when necessary to write a story about anything in...

Name the new education law, one word at a time

Assistant secretary of education Peter Cunningham suggested I ask readers what single word they think is most important to have in the new name to replace No Child Left Behind. Sounds like a fun exercise. Put your suggestions here.

Cutting elementary foreign language--often no big loss

Keep in mind the more exotic the language, the more it will impress parents, but the more exotic the language, the less likely the teaching will be very good.

Older Entries in This Category »

Don't save bad schools--terminate them, Jay Mathews , November 17, 2009

Charters good, bad and mediocre, Jay Mathews , November 16, 2009

Sidwell Friends School as Rorschach test, Jay Mathews , November 13, 2009

Arne answers your questions, Jay Mathews , November 12, 2009

What should I ask Arne?, Jay Mathews , November 11, 2009

Rating Md., Va. and D.C. schools--a puzzle, Jay Mathews , November 10, 2009

Bad eighth grade math placements--an update, Jay Mathews , November 9, 2009

AP debate: Jay rejects Valerie's forgiveness, Jay Mathews , November 5, 2009

Will 21st century skills weaken our federal education programs?, Jay Mathews , November 4, 2009

Help pick the best education blogs of 2009, Jay Mathews , November 4, 2009

Bye-bye Arne: Why we don't need an education secretary, Jay Mathews , November 3, 2009

Secrets of private schools revealed, Jay Mathews , November 2, 2009

Are Post authors biased? Give us your solutions., Jay Mathews , October 31, 2009

Rhee is right--summer learning is vital, Jay Mathews , October 30, 2009

Rhee vs. teachers--is that clash important?, Jay Mathews , October 29, 2009

A new, if pushy, idea to improve special education, Jay Mathews , October 28, 2009

School censorship without student input is not cool, Jay Mathews , October 28, 2009

Harvard Schmarvard: Does more selective mean better?, Jay Mathews , October 28, 2009

Immigrant teachers exploited, districts don't notice, Jay Mathews , October 28, 2009

Minimum school leaving age nonsense, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009

Is homework necessary?, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009

School improvement in the real world, Jay Mathews , October 27, 2009

Latest from Chancellor Rhee, Jay Mathews , October 26, 2009

How many times were you suspended?, Jay Mathews , October 26, 2009

My obit for Jerry Bracey, Jay Mathews , October 23, 2009

Is cutting college to three years a good idea?, Jay Mathews , October 21, 2009

Making the grade not about race, but culture, Jay Mathews , October 20, 2009

Solve These International Test Math Problems, Jay Mathews , October 19, 2009

Don't Get Too Excited About Jump in D.C. Scores, Jay Mathews , October 15, 2009

Washington Post Raises Money for Students, Jay Mathews , October 13, 2009

What Are the Best Moves Your Schools Ever Made?, Jay Mathews , October 12, 2009

Educators Already Make No. Va. Schools Some of the Best , Washington Post editors , October 12, 2009

D.C. School Protestors--What's Your Plan?, Jay Mathews , October 11, 2009

How to Fight for Special Education, Washington Post editors , October 9, 2009

D.C. Teacher Layoffs--Muddying the Path to Better Schools, Jay Mathews , October 8, 2009

Gifted Student Stifled--The School District Responds, Jay Mathews , October 5, 2009

One Reason Why Risky D.C. Teacher Evaluation Might Work, Jay Mathews , October 1, 2009

10 Ways to Pick the Right School, Jay Mathews , September 28, 2009

Despite Test Scores, Shaw Is on the Right Track, Washington Post editors , September 28, 2009

Bad Title, Mind-Changing Book, Washington Post editors , September 25, 2009

Rhee's Latest Move: It's All About Principals, Jay Mathews , September 24, 2009

State Superintendent Supports Rhee Account, Jay Mathews , September 23, 2009

Seen Cheating? Tell Me About It. , Jay Mathews , September 23, 2009

Testing Vet Reveals How to Fix Standardized Tests, Jay Mathews , September 22, 2009

New Ammo For Charter Debate, Jay Mathews , September 22, 2009

Elite Schools Don't Make Elite People, Jay Mathews , September 21, 2009

Fixing the Teacher Certification Mess, Washington Post editors , September 18, 2009

Jay & Valerie Debate Cheating, Jay Mathews , September 16, 2009

Where Did the Least Admirable Go to College?, Jay Mathews , September 15, 2009

Egad! School Research Has Power, Jay Mathews , September 9, 2009

Jay on the Web: Will Advanced Placement Replace the SAT?, Washington Post Editors , August 28, 2009

Three Smart Rules for Home School Regulation, Washington Post Editors , August 21, 2009

Jay on the Web: Pitfalls for Poor Students, Pt. 2, Washington Post Editors , August 12, 2009

What the SAT-optional Colleges Don’t Tell You, Washington Post editors , July 31, 2009

They Messed With the Wrong Blogger, Washington Post editors , July 24, 2009

Jay on the Web: Joy and Equality in Public Education, Sarah Mimms , July 23, 2009

Jay on the Web: Which Makes A Bigger Difference - Good Teachers or Administrative Processes?, Sarah Mimms , July 22, 2009

Jay on the Web: Will Technology Save Our Kids?, Washington Post Editors , July 17, 2009

Jay on the Web: Middle Class Children in KIPP, Washington Post Editors , July 10, 2009

Jay on the Web: What's the Best Model for School Reform?, Washington Post Editors , July 8, 2009

Jay on the Web: Can Unions and KIPP Schools Co-exist?, Washington Post Editors , July 1, 2009

Jay on the Web: Is AP the Only Way to Challenge Students?, Sarah Mimms , June 24, 2009

Jay on the Web: Michelle Rhee's Report Card, Washington Post Editors , June 17, 2009

Jay on the Web: Why Michelle Rhee Is Wrong on Merit Pay for Teachers, Washington Post Editors , June 3, 2009

Jay on the Web: Mathews on KIPP Charter Schools, Washington Post Editors , May 27, 2009

Would Schools Be Better Off If Fewer or More Students Took AP Tests?, Washington Post Editors , May 20, 2009

How to Spend $100 Billion to Fix Schools (Cont.), Washington Post editors , May 19, 2009

Jay on the Web: A Libertarian View on Fixing the Nation's Schools, Washington Post Editors , May 13, 2009

Jay on the Web: Does Energy Outweigh Experience When It Comes to Teachers?, Washington Post Editors , May 6, 2009

Jay on the Web: "Bubble Kids" and High Stakes Tests , Washington Post Editors , April 29, 2009

A Debate Over Testing and Low Performing Students, Washington Post Editors , April 22, 2009

A Dissenting View on the Knowledge is Power Program, Washington Post Editors , April 15, 2009

Jay on the Web: Readers on KIPP, Vouchers and Parental Involvement, Washington Post Editors , April 1, 2009

On the Web: Readers on KIPP, Charter Schools, Washington Post Editors , March 25, 2009

On the Web: Response to the Economic Stimulus, AP, More, Washington Post Editors , March 18, 2009

On the Web: Reaction to Class Size Debate, Washington Post Editors , March 4, 2009

On the Web: Jay's Book, KIPP Thoughts, Washington Post Editors , February 25, 2009

On the Web: Shouts for Schools' Value, Washington Post Editors , February 18, 2009

On the Web: KIPP Conversations and Local Test Scores, Washington Post Editors , February 11, 2009

Jay on the Web?, Washington Post Editors , November 30, 2008