The answer to this is literally no. However, the Star Tribune editorial board perfectly captures the spirit of the education reformers A.L.E.C., Student's First, and the latest A.L.E.C. clone, State Government Leadership Foundation. It is almost as if those three organizations took out ad space in this editorial take down of Governor Dayton.
We all know that quality teachers are paramount in our system. However, the Strib takes the "Waiting for Superman" paradigm where you are either Superman or a kid hating Lex Luther. Almost the entire editorial emphasis focuses on this divisive dichotomy. A more productive, functional, and effective metaphor would be teachers as Avengers, none perfect. Each with different strengths and weaknesses, working together. The corporate reformers would rather divide and conquer, like their supporter Scott Walker likes to say.
So, we have another editorial piling on the narrative that teachers are not the solution to the problem. Teachers ARE the problem. Logically, this means all the teachers in Edina are above average and ALL the teachers in the cities must be sub-par. This premise is silly, but no one ever questions it. So, let's take one little example from the Strib.
As with classroom teachers, a certain percentage of school leaders' job reviews will be based on student performance. That's another wise way to keep the most effective educators on the job.
This sounds great on the surface, so we just take it as fact. We need to give claims of fact more scrutiny though. If students were sorted equally, maybe this would work. Even the same teacher can have massive score fluctuations from period to period. The
National Academies of Researchsay that using student test scores is NOT wise. The Strib says it is wise, and we are just to believe them with no evidence. It is not surprising, as the Strib has never referenced the National Academies, but has relied on world renowned education expert
Fran Tarkenton for their editorial rigor. Remember, the former Quarterback went to school, so he is more of an expert than the National Academies of Research, RAND testing, and the Educational Testing Services, all of who say the Strib's stance is NOT wise. The Strib has Fran and A.L.E.C. on their side though. Must be something to it.
Crossposted at MNProgressive Project.