Comments on: “Schools Can’t Fix Poverty. And That’s OK” http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2008/11/13/schools-cant-fix-poverty-and-thats-ok/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:59:33 -0600 hourly 1 By: john thompson http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2008/11/13/schools-cant-fix-poverty-and-thats-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-4841 john thompson Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:27:57 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1441#comment-4841 I take exception with accountability hawks across the political spectrum when they argue that people who have dedicated their lives to poor children are trying to deflect attention away from "results." I understand hardball politics, but those so-called "reformers" can't claim the high road. If they had evidence on their side, they wouldn't have to attack the sincerity and the integrity of educators and education experts. If you believe that accountability should be the driving force of reform, or you support NCLB, then make your arguments. What is so awful about a debate using evidence? I take exception with accountability hawks across the political spectrum when they argue that people who have dedicated their lives to poor children are trying to deflect attention away from “results.”

I understand hardball politics, but those so-called “reformers” can’t claim the high road. If they had evidence on their side, they wouldn’t have to attack the sincerity and the integrity of educators and education experts.

If you believe that accountability should be the driving force of reform, or you support NCLB, then make your arguments. What is so awful about a debate using evidence?

]]> By: Rachel http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2008/11/13/schools-cant-fix-poverty-and-thats-ok/comment-page-1/#comment-4838 Rachel Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:14:17 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1441#comment-4838 I'm okay with schools not trying to fix poverty -- as long as the accountability hawks don't expect schools to erase the effects of poverty. I think there's a strong argument that schools will be most effective if the focus on education, and on the ability of good education to counter-act the effects of poverty. In order for schools to be able to do that in an accountability focused world, the accountability structure needs to recognize that they effects of poverty on student achievement are real. Just pretending that poverty is a problem that kids leave at the classroom door doesn't help either schools or students. I’m okay with schools not trying to fix poverty — as long as the accountability hawks don’t expect schools to erase the effects of poverty.

I think there’s a strong argument that schools will be most effective if the focus on education, and on the ability of good education to counter-act the effects of poverty.

In order for schools to be able to do that in an accountability focused world, the accountability structure needs to recognize that they effects of poverty on student achievement are real. Just pretending that poverty is a problem that kids leave at the classroom door doesn’t help either schools or students.

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