We have been waiting forever in the USA for politicians to embrace a progressive education program. Mostly we have been disappointed over the last generation as politicians from both the Democrat and Republican parties continue to advocate for harmful public education policies, particularly on high stakes testing where the Democrats are as bad and in many ways worse than the Republicans.
Over in the UK, they may have a political mess because of Brexit but on opposition to high stakes testing in the lower grades in British schools, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has it right.
From the Guardian:
Labour has announced plans to scrap compulsory national tests for primary school children in England, with a promise to relieve pressure on overstretched schools and free up teachers to deliver a “rich and varied curriculum”.
Jeremy Corbyn chose to set out his proposals to abolish the regime of “extreme pressure testing” in an address to teachers gathered in Liverpool for the annual National Education Union conference.
In a speech warmly received by NEU members, who voted on Monday in favour of a ballot to boycott Sats tests next year, the Labour leader said: “We need to prepare children for life, not just for exams.”
He denounced the high-stakes testing culture, complaining that children in England’s schools are among the most tested in the world, and pledged a Labour government would abolish Sats for seven- and 11-year-olds, as well as controversial plans for baseline assessments for reception classes.
How about a so called progressive candidate for US President taking a position like this?
Update: After the Bernie Sanders' campaign talked to Diane Ravitch, Diane reports that Bernie's positions on education have improved. Sanders, however, is not yet there when it comes to opposing charter schools.
From Ravitch:
I am still waiting for a Democratic candidate who will explain why we as a nation should have two different publicly funded systems of education–one that chooses the students it wants, and the other required to accept all students. One, under private management, and the other controlled by an elected school board, or a board appointed by an elected official.
2 comments:
By Jove, he’s done it. Mayor Putz has found a lane that could take him all the way to the finish line in the 2020 presidential sweepstakes.
The worst mayor ever, or the W.O.A.T., (Worst Of All Times), is ready for his national close-up. Having sent New York into serious decline during his reign of error, he aims to take his talents to the White House.
Alas, among Bill de Blasio’s problems has been finding the right message. For months, he’s traipsed around the early-primary states, searching for an idea that is popular on the left and would set him apart in the crowded candidate field.
He could have run as a competent mayor — but that would have been a lie. He’s totally incompetent, as even casual visitors to New York discover as they wade through trash, snarled, chaotic traffic and surging homeless vagrants, many clearly deranged.
He could have run as an honest public official — but that would be false, too. As demonstrated by the endless accusations and substantial evidence, de Blasio has a thing for brazen pay-to-play schemes.
Another option was to run as a passionate progressive, as a mayor who rolls up his sleeves and puts in long, hard days delivering the nuts and bolts of local governance. The problem is that de Blasio is a human sloth, a late sleeper who can’t be bothered to get out of his SUV or even show up at City Hall many days.
Just one more reason to drop out of the union.
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