“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
“You can't create a successful politics of support for public education on the basis of asking voters not to care about skills, and tests that measure skills, at all.” CareSupportSuccessfulSkillsTestsBasesAskingVotersPublic Education Author:Nicholas Lemann
