“I am not against standardized tests. There are tests and tests and tests, and, to simplify, the ones I favor are criterion-referenced tests of skills, aligned with the curriculum. Social and emotional skills are important but skills are too. I find it heartbreaking that this is so often seen as an either-or choice. To get to the richness of studying literature, for example, you must first be an adept and confident reader. Whether you are is something a good test can measure.” FirstsImportantChoicesLiteratureSocialStudyExampleEmotionalReaderSkillsTestsFavorsCriteriaRichnessSimplifyHeartbreakingCurriculumAdeptEither OrStudying Literature Author:Nicholas Lemann
“One of the most consistent findings about low performing schools and students is that "home variables" (parental income and education, etc.) are more predictive than "school variables." But, having said that, we as a society can have much more effect on the school variables than on the home variables, so it's important and valuable to focus on the question of which interventions in schools are most effective and which are least effective.” SaidImportantHomeSchoolFocusEffectsStudentsFindingsLowsValuableIncomePerformingConsistentEtcInterventionVariablesParental Author:Nicholas Lemann
