President Obama's education "reform" initiatives are simplistic.....

[Smarmie Doofus]

Last edited Sun Jan 29, 2012, 11:42 AM - Edit history (1)

....to put it VERY delicately. ( VEEERRRY delicately.) They're also ( and this should not be mistaken for coincidence) very *Republican* in character. ( i.e. "simplistic"/"Republican";"simplistic"/"Republican";"simplistic"/"Republican"
"simplistic"/"Republican". Now, all together....)



I truly wish he would take time to learn about this important topic. If you don't know about something, admit ( at least to yourself), "I don't know about this topic." This ... in the case of an intelligent individual ( and he IS THAT)... will be followed by the following cognition: " I should learn a lot more about this important sphere . Failing that, I will consult w. -- and be guided by -- a person or persons who has or have extensive, intimate experience in, and knowledge of, the sphere in which I am..... errrhhh... *unschooled*."

It's hard to believe that anyone *reeeaaalllly* believes that that person is Arne Duncan. Come on, now.

Mr. President. It's never too late. "Only you can help you."


Today's mini-lesson: why "merit" pay won't work for teachers. ( I would have said simply: "But we aren't IN THIS for the money.&quot

(kudos to ednotesonline.net, BTW, for the link)

Nobody listens to us. So.... maybe the 'Harvards' can 'splain' it in a more digestible form:



>>>4. Variable pay for performance tends to crowd out intrinsic motivation and thus the joy of fulfilling work. Such motivation is of great importance to business, because it supports innovation and encourages beyond-the-ordinary contributions.
The idea that people work only for money has been thrown overboard by leading scholars. Research has shown that human beings are not interested solely in material gain. They care for the well-being of other individuals and value recognition from coworkers. Many employees apply themselves because they find their work challenging and worthwhile. These nonmaterial motivations point to better ways to get results from the members of an organization. >>>>


http://hbr.org/2012/01/tackling-business-problems/ar/1#.TvtyhA4E5ps.twitter

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Kick. I knew I shouldn't have put "education" in the header.

Not sexy and relatively few folks here use PSs and are therefore ( foolishly, imo; bad schools hurt EVERYBODY) unconcerned.

[MadHound]

2. There are two actions that can be taken, that are simple, that would dramatically improve education.

The first is fully fund education. That means that every school is fully supplied and stocked with all it needs. It also means that every teacher is well paid, at the same level that doctors and lawyers are.

Second, put the decisions about education only into the hands of professional educators, not politicians, not businessmen, but people who've actually put the time in in the classroom.

These two reforms would do more good for our education system than anything that has come down the pike in the past seventy years.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. +1

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Have you signed the petition?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1124514

[mmonk]

4. Thanks for that.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. I have now. Thanks. n/t