Here is a book review by Dr. Pedro Noguera that appeared in the Sunday, NYTimes Sunday Book Review this month on a book by Vicki Abeles in what is likely to be a controversial text. Much to ponder here. I have long been a critic of the narrow definitions of success in our schools, especially standardized test scores. It'll be interesting to see where the locus of change is/needs to be and whether authentic learning and assessment or culturally relevant curricula are a part of this.
‘Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation’
In
the thought-provoking “Beyond Measure,” Vicki Abeles offers a
compelling set of arguments for reconsidering how we define success in
American education and for radically altering the approach we’ve taken
to get there. High grades, high test scores and admission to one of the
nation’s elite colleges have long been embraced as symbols of excellence
and, by extension, successful parenting. Abeles suggests that pursuit
of this narrow form of success is actually harming children and
families, and distorting our educational institutions. Her book is bound
to be controversial, particularly to the education establishment —
university presidents, the testing industry and the policy makers who
support them. For many of them, “Beyond Measure” is likely to be
regarded as a threat, if not downright subversive.
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