The problem is that the tests narrow the curriculum. The students from higher SES families will have lives that are broadened due to outside activities, trips, camps, music lessons, discussions and reading at home, etc. so they will not suffer as much as the lower SES students who get most of their "education" at school. But, overall, all students suffer from the focus on test scores.

Problems go far beyond that. The poor performing kids are spread out whenever possible because the average scores are what matter.

The problem is that the tests narrow the curriculum. The students from higher SES families will have lives that are broadened due to outside activities, trips, camps, music lessons, discussions and reading at home, etc. so they will not suffer as much as the lower SES students who get most of their "education" at school. But, overall, all students suffer from the focus on test scores.

If schools are going to be judged by test responses, guess what they are going to teach?

they are certainly part of the solution.

No. They are part of the problem. It's making it worse and causing schools/administrators/teachers/parents to game the system.

Tests and high standards are not the primary answer (that would be involved parents) but they are certainly part of the solution.

Duncan was quoted in a WAPO column today. Apparently, he tutored inner city kids when he was in college. He seems to think that the tests will solve the problem--along with high standards. He is dead wrong.

Private schools and Princeton aren't "fake". It's just that an education secretary who is making policy for the public schools (and public schools only) may be more credible if he had experienced that sector firsthand in one way or another and for an extended period of time.

Anonymous wrote:
Duncan went to private schools for his whole K-12 education and then went to Princeton. When will we get an education secretary who has experienced the "real world"?

Private schools and Princeton are the fake world?

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/arne-duncan-...ft-behind-114174.html?hp=b1_c1

Duncan wants to keep the testing element. Worst part. Both parties are so wrong on this.

+1000

Duncan went to private schools for his whole K-12 education and then went to Princeton. When will we get an education secretary who has experienced the "real world"?

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/arne-duncan-gop-no-child-left-behind-114174.html?hp=b1_c1

Duncan wants to keep the testing element. Worst part. Both parties are so wrong on this.

Also, please don't make fun of the poor locals just because they didn't get into Harvard like you did. They still have rights under the Constitution.

^ Excuse me, but I think the topic is education---which is a local mandate. Medicare is a federal program and they don't control that. Two different topics here.

Bear in mind that these are the same yokels who say "keep tha gubmint outta mah medicare!"

^You mean that you are with the federal government? And the locals had an "attitude"? LOL Now you understand it.