The Real Story

We have learned to take what our politicians say with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of skepticism.  From messages of WMD to messages of Hope, we know things never really are what they seem.  So, why should we believe our politicians when they claim to know what is best for America’s education system?  Where is the healthy dose of skepticism?

President Obama wants America to innovate to win the future and at the same time he wants to turn our schools into high-stakes test-taking machines and link everything from funding to teacher pay to the results of those tests.  In this blog, I have consistently argued against this naively simple model, asking, “Do we really want a nation of great test-takers?”

Now, the answer is clear, and it comes straight from China, the nation with the world’s top test-takers.  In an article by Kathy Chu for USAToday, Chu writes, “…critics believe this strength may mask the Chinese education system's shortfall in producing innovative and creative students.”

So, Mr. Obama, it is not just about the test, but also about culture and society.  We can create fundamentally strong students, but that does not mean they will be innovative and creative.  There may need to be a little give and take as education reform moves into the future.  After all, isn’t that what politics is all about?

Look beyond the sound bites and reclaim public education!