Digging through old drafts, found this. Decided to post it–since the powers that be seem determined to play out the “data-driven” mantra to the bitter end (and it will be bitter), it’s certainly still timely. Maybe even more timely than ever, what with the mantra turning to “it’s all on the teachers” and “we must tie teacher retention, pay, and promotion to their students’ test scores–THAT’LL fix ’em!” (more…)
Archive for the ‘politics’ Category
Testing and “accountability” in public schools
Posted in ed policy/politics, politics, teaching/learning on March 26, 2010| 2 Comments »
Politics makes strange bedfellows
Posted in politics on September 30, 2008| 1 Comment »
I can hardly believe this, being a liberal Democrat and all, but during the recent furor over the apparent collapse of the worldwide capitalist financial system and the proposed bailout, I find myself in periodic sympathy with the conservative Republican members of the House who have apparently blocked it’s adoption, at least for now. (more…)
Coming up for air, and It’s and ill wind
Posted in personal, politics on February 3, 2008| Leave a Comment »
Just a quick gulp of air. Finally got the last of my work from last semester done! Only a month late!! So now I can take a moment–just a moment, mind you–for more frivolous stuff, like writing a post. Tomorrow, it’s back to the grindstone.
Since Christmas I’ve (more…)
Ya think maybe I’m a Democrat?
Posted in politics on January 8, 2008| 3 Comments »
Took that “match yourself to the candidates” quiz. Results came out like this:
92% Dennis Kucinich
91% Mike Gravel
86% Chris Dodd
84% Barack Obama
83% Hillary Clinton
82% John Edwards
80% Joe Biden
73% Bill Richardson
36% Rudy Giuliani
26% Ron Paul
24% John McCain
18% Tom Tancredo
17% Mike Huckabee
16% Mitt Romney
7% Fred Thompson
2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz
I took it once before, and got a high match to Ron Paul (he’s still high on the list of Republicans for me.) Scary. I’d never heard of Mike Gravel, and when I checked him out–nope, I actually wouldn’t vote for him out of this bunch. So altogether I’m not all that sure how good their matching algorithm is. But interesting, nonetheless.
Rambling and piggybacking on others
Posted in misc, personal, politics, spiritual, spirituality on April 22, 2007| Leave a Comment »
Somehow, I was wiped out after a mere two days of contemplating materials submitted by teachers for evaluation of their readiness for a credential. California has recently mandated that every new teacher in the state must (wait for it)–pass a test. Or I should say, pass another test. (more…)
“Those not for us”
Posted in philosophy, politics, religion on December 10, 2006| Leave a Comment »
Thinking about the polarization that has developed in this country and indeed around the world, and the harm that I think it does.
People who are trying to polarize, or activate, other people often say something like “Those who are not for us are against us.” The cultural roots of this probably go back to the Christian Bible, Matthew 12 verse 30:”He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
But compare Mark 9 verse 40: “For he who is not against us is on our side.”
(more…)
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