Roland Fryer is poised to become one of the most influential people in education research, leading a $44 million dollar effort to test the efficacy of various educational theories. The New York Times reports the Harvard economist has quit his job as New York City’s “chief equality officer” to run the Educational Innovation Laboratory. Funded largely by Eli Broad, the effort “is intended to infuse education with the data-driven approach that is common in science and business.”
“If the doctor said to you, ‘You have a cold; here are three pills my buddy in Charlotte uses and he says they work,’ you would run out and find another doctor,” Dr. Fryer tells the Times. “Somehow, in education, that approach is O.K.”
Those who have followed his work will not be surprised to learn the first idea to be put under the microscope are incentive programs that reward students for good grades and passing standardized tests, an idea closely associated with Fryer in New York City.
Is this idea lab going to build on Project Follow Through, or ignore it? Are they going to hire needed expertise from ed school, or ignore it? I’m not holding my breath.
I’m all for research and experimentation, but I’m pessimistic enough to not expect much. I have developed the basis of my pessimism to some length at the end of my article “A Personal Indictment Of Ed School” at http://www.brianrude.com/indict-ed.htm .
I hope they don’t spend all their money on researching incentives….
All I know is that something has to be done. I left the classroom out of frustration because I was tired of having school administration over me be the ones who were the biggest perpetrators of academic inequality. How can change take place when the school district themselves are the ones who create and perpetuate low standards, expectations and achievement from brown and black kids. I can’t say I necessarily agree with Dr. Fryer’s incentive program completely but I do applaud his tenacity, courage and passion. Yay for you Dr. Fryer! I realize that the search for solutions is a powerful thing. Although I have left the classroom, I am still in the fight for equality through education and the learning of economic theory through practical standards. Education needs to be more innovative, there are some many things that can be done to help bring about change.