Ethos, The Weblog
Monday, January 31, 2005
Teaching for America
CREDO, a research group at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, published a report on the performance of Teach for America teachers relative to both new teachers and all teachers in the Houston Independent School District. They focused on two main questions:
1) Are TFA recruits effective teachers; and
2) If a district had one remaining position to fill, would it be better off with a new TFA teacher or another candidate?
"...the distribution of performance among teachers clearly shows that the lowest-performing teachers were consistently not TFA teachers and that TFA teachers make up a disproportionate number of high performers. Moreover, TFA teachers were more consistent in their performance than their non-TFA peers"
Teach for America by MARGARET RAYMOND and STEPHEN FLETCHER - Education Next - Spring 2002
Multiple Intelligences
Here is a good general survey of Howard Garner's theory of multiple intelligences along with a critical examination.
The central thesis: there are multiple, independent intelligences and this theory has applications to education.
Reframing the Mind CHECKED by DANIEL T. WILLINGHAM - Education Next - Summer 2004
Vouchers for Democrats
An article from Washington Monthly back in 2003 that discusses how democrats can actually take the voucher issue and make it their own.
The skinny: support vouchers, but ensure that theya re available to the kids who need them most and that the private schools that accept them are accountable to the same standards that the public schools are. "Pro Choice" by Siobhan Gorman
Harvard President Larry Summers on Female Academic Performance
Ah, for those of you that have not read this fiery hot-bed for academic journalists, then be sure to read this comprehensive article from Slate:
Don't Worry Your Pretty Little Head - The pseudo-feminist show trial of Larry Summers. By William?Saletan
I'll admit that it is tilted more towards Dr. Summer's side than other articles that refer to him as a bigot and report that many are calling for him to resign. In other words, I think that the Slate article gives the situation a much fairer look.
The situation: Dr. Summers, while speaking at a conference, said that innate genetic differences between the sexes is one possible explanation as to why female faculty are underrepresented in the upper ranks of science and engineering. He referred to research showing that average/mean male and female scores on math and science tests are about equal, but the scores of men tend to be overrepresented in the upper and lower percentages. This hypothesis, which he said needed further exploring, outraged the ardent feminists in the crowd. I believe they overreacted.
MIT professor Steven Pinker said: "Look, the truth cannot be offensive. Perhaps the hypothesis is wrong, but how would we ever find out whether it is wrong if it is 'offensive' even to consider it? People who storm out of a meeting at the mention of a hypothesis, or declare it taboo or offensive without providing arguments or evidence, don't get the concept of a university or free inquiry."
Another take, from Andrew Sullivan: http://www.andrewsullivan.com/main_article.php?artnum=20050123
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Humor that I just love to laugh at
Victor forwarded me this blog a little while ago, written supposedly by a hiring partner at a top law firm. He chronicles his law firm and office life with the dry and rather torturous humor I just love to read.
Anonymous Lawyer
It has been too long...
For those of you that for some reason read my blog more than, say, once a month, I apologize for my writing hiatus. For the rest of you, I say nothing. I have been horribly bad at posting the past few months, perhaps because I have finally started working and am no longer at home or in school with tons of time to spare.
For those of you that don't know yet, I am a research assistant at the Texas Education Agency in the Office for Planning, Grants, and Evaluation. That's right, I do it for the kids. What do I do though, I'm glad you asked.
In our office, we oversee strategic planning for the Agency and administer and evaluate the various grant programs. Say, for example, that the Legislature appropriates $10 million for schools to decrease dropout rates. Our office then designs the grant program, with the grant being either formula funded or discretionary/competitive. The specific goals and objectives are established for the program, with most all of the allowable programs, etc. To be based off of sound research. This requirement helps prevent ineffective programs from being implemented.
Here is what I do though -- Once the program is established and the grants are allotted to schools and/or districts, then these schools and districts submit reports back to the Agency with data such as how the program is being implemented, how many teachers/staff/administrators and parents are involved, how may hours of instruction were given, subjective ratings of how programs are working, what goals were and were not achieved, student performance data, etc. From this data and information, we then draft evaluation reports on the program and evaluate its effectiveness. From our evaluation, we can recommend changes in the granting process, the scope of the program, or to cut the program altogether.
I love it so far, and the session is just under way...Well, it will be when the legislators get back from D.C. I have no definite plans here yet, but I do plan on staying on through session. I have a separate side project I am working on that could provide me with a new and different opportunity to work more directly with education policy, but the framework is still being developed.
Besides that, I'm just waiting for gym prices to go down so I can join 24 Hour Fitness and not feel like a bum when I get home for work and watch CNN for two hours. I'm also helping a little with Student Government campaigns again this year, as I just love the strategy and planning aspect of them. From what I know, two campaigns have formed, one with Omar Ochoa and Elizabeth Brummett, and another with Jessica Rice and Colby Hanks (president and vice president, respectively). Sadly, I am friends with all four of them, but I decided to commit my advice and help to Omar and Elizabeth. I am still hoping though that I can support Jessica as a friend, and I know I can remain impartial since here in Texas my word is as good as gold.
Signing off...
