CB> Where We Stand
CB> By Albert Shanker
CB> Most people agree that the school reform movement has not succeeded 
CB> in
CB> finding the answer to poor student achievement.  A new book, BEYOND 
CB> THE
CB> CLASSROOM, contends that it never will if we insist on looking only 
CB> at what
CB> schools do--or don't do--and ignore the part that students and their
CB> attitudes and values play in the equation.
    Student attitude is a major variable, but one beyond the control of the 
schools and teachers...and thus beyond the control of school reform.  No 
amount of increased per-pupil spending will improve it, and by definition it 
is beyond the control of the teacher.
CB> This kind of stuff is being well received by educators all over the 
CB> country
CB> who are tired of hearing bad news, but Steinberg and his 
CB> collaborators give
CB> it the short shrift it deserves. They point out that SAT scores 
CB> dropped for
CB> everyone--not just poor, minority kids--and NAEP scores remain flat.
    True, but the increasing percentage of public school students who are 
minority kids from poor families causes a larger-than-otherwise drop in 
average test scores.
CB> BEYOND THE CLASSROOM's main argument is with people who say that poor 
CB> student
CB> achievement is chiefly--or even entirely--the fault of the schools. 
    And it implies that school reform and higher spending won't improve 
outcome.
--- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS])
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