More on "A Nation at Risk"

True to form, the commissioned report entitled "A Nation at Risk" was a scathing attack on public education. To read portions of it, as I have done, one would think we were at war both with ourselves and the rest of the world. It is clear from the harsh tone and actual language that we had lost our way. It is mind blowing to understand just what motivated this lashing-out at education and teachers. Was it because of the actual classroom conditions, perceived failures, 'the times,' the ushering in of the Reagan era (remember he didn't even want a Dept. of Education) or was it, most likely, a combination of many forces.

Whatever precipitated the onslaught, the damage was, and still is, done. We have moved towards a time when any successes/failures in the classroom and education in total must be quantified. Standardized testing, accountability, time on task, more testing, longer school days, lengthier school year, merit pay tied to student test scores and more. It is a perpetual maze of meeting standards, measuring up if you will.

Of course almost all of the above doesn't come close to dealing with students; their level of interest in material, their level of motivation, how they see themselves in the world and other issues pertaining to their lives. Much of the quantification craze also has little to do with great teaching!

To get right down to it...Perhaps the report "A Nation at Risk" has done more harm than good!

Dick