by Robert Pondiscio
January 8th, 2008
Tags: incentives
Posted in Educational Policy, Research and Reports | No Comments »
Rewards for good grades and test scores are gaining traction. Forget stickers and pizza parties. Eddy Ramirez’ piece in this week’s U.S. News notes that the the bribes…sorry, incentives, include basketball tickets, iPods, cars and cash. Ramirez quotes Roland Fryer, a Harvard professor of economics, who says it’s “‘absurd’ to expect children who grew up in poverty, with parents who dropped out of school, to appreciate the value of education without giving them immediate rewards for taking school seriously.”
Maybe so, but if it’s for the kids’ benefit, not to boost test scores, then where were all those incentives before testing mania hit fever pitch? Just wondering.
Over at her spiffy new digs on the Education Week site, the redoubtable Eduwonkette does what she always does better than anyone: looks at the research. It’s always refreshing to read education research from outside the education department, and EW digests three reports from last weekend’s American Economic Association meeting, all of which looked at student financial incentives. Do incentives work? The economists say “not really.”
by Robert Pondiscio
January 8th, 2008
Tags: NCLB
Posted in Educational Policy | No Comments »
Everyone’s favorite piece of education legislation turns six today. Happy Birthday, No Child Left Behind. Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan, and one of the fathers, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) gives his Child a mixed review in the Washington Post. On the plus side, “modest” improvement in student achievement and a focus on data that improves teaching and learning. On the down side, NCLB’s “one-size-fits-all approach encourages ‘teaching to the test’ and discourages innovation in the classroom.” Credit the Senator for sticking up for NCLB when the Dems are fighting each other to throw it under the “change” bus. Meanwhile the law’s still-proudest papa went to an elementary school in Chicago Monday to say NCLB is the greatest thing since sliced bread with raisins. For wonks only: the press “gaggle” with Ed Secretary Margaret Spellings aboard Air Force One en route to Chicago.
Back on the stump, NCLB is either “is a costly and disastrous foray into federal control of schools or a lofty plan that needs fixing” depending on which candidate you ask. So writes Laura Green in the Palm Beach Post in a strong roundup of who’s saying what about NCLB on the campaign trail.
Watch this space for our roundup wise men and women weighing in on NCLB’s chances for reauthorization.
