Standardized Tests

National Conference on Achievement Testing and Basic Skills

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:55:29 -0400

Shanker is a part of a panel with John Ryor to discuss teacher testing. Shanker's statements reflect what he sees as the fall of respect for the teacher and to bring respect back to the profession a national teacher test should instituted like doctors and lawyers do to practice their profession. John Ryor's statement starts on page 1-121 and question were asked starting on page 2-137

NPR Options in Education, “The Great Debate III”

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

John Merrow interviews Al Shanker and NEA Executive Director Terry Herndon. They begin by discussing discipline in schools and corporal punishment. Then, Merrow asks the union leaders about standardized tests for students and about evaluative examinations for teachers. The debate then turns to tenure. Herndon and Shanker both advocate strongly for tenure while Merrow questions its purpose. Next the leaders discuss affirmative action and quotas, especially focusing on a court case, Bakke v. read more »

SUNY Albany: "In Defense of the University"

jruss — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:03 -0400

Al Shanker describes how the typical liberal education which universities have offered in the past has been drastically diminished. He believes that the protest culture of the 1960s contributed to a lowering of academic standards which has continued through a promotion of vocational education. He states, “The university as a rallying point for political action may seem like a far cry from the university as a vocational training center. read more »