Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Framing the Argument, how public relations put the corporate reformers at the forefront of the debate.

Earlier today yahoo recommended this article for me. Yahoo doesn't know me at all, either that or Marissa Meyer secretly hates me.

While I hate linking the article here, I think it brings to the forefront one of the major issues that those who are trying to save education have, we don't message nearly well enough.

Go ahead, waste 5 minutes of your life and read that trash.  Look at how carefully the author works to frame tests as a positive for the poor, and minorities.  Note how they use children and their innocence to bolster their argument, how they very subtly cast teachers and their union as villains.  Then look at how they somewhat smoothly eave the reader from opting out of tests to school choice, and take another shot at teachers and their unions in the process.  Notice the use of words with specific connotation like trapped.

The reality is that teachers are behind the eight ball, because we aren't public relation experts we are education experts, and the big money isn't there if we win this oh so important argument.  The big money is there for the taking if the corporate reformers win, so they have more to invest in the public relations process.  It is sad, and as an educator it is frightening.

Let's take a moment and discuss some of the arguments made in the article.

  • he offers no evidence about the frequency of parents paying for tutoring, nor does he offer evidence that the parents want their children to take those tests.  Where is the logic that people would hate tests but think those are fine?
  • He ignore the obviousness of the opt out moving being about two key things, valueless tests (the SAT and the ACT get you college admission)  and too many tests (why add more if you take the SAT or the ACT?) 
  • He makes the claim the new tests are better, with no context as to what better means, and no evidence as to them actually meeting that criteria.  
  • He claims that these tests are important to minorities "trapped"  in failing schools so they can see the failure.  but offers no indication as to how these tests can help us improve.  Nor does he acknowledge the bevy of research that indicates that all these tests do is measure your socioeconomic status.  
  • He makes a leap that allowing test opt outs, should allow school opt outs without addressing the motivation for test opt outs is so that schools can spend more time on education and less on test prep.  Thereby making the school a better place for the students.  
  • He almost doesn't seem to realize that test scores are not why parents choose schools.  

Basically the article claims the existence of a false world based on the authors perceptions of reality, and expects us all to live in it.  What makes me sad, is far too many of us too willing to embrace it.  

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