Anthony Cody is rightly concerned about an article in the Néw York Tomes proposing the use of genetics to identify which students need which interventions.
As he observes, eugenics has an ugly history. In the early decades of the twentieth century, some of our leading intellectuals became enthusiastic about the idea that the human race could be improved if we applied the same principles used in breeding animals to the breeding of people. Those of high intelligence and character should marry and reproduce, while those who were of low intelligence should be discouraged from reproducing, even sterilized to prevent them from doing so. That was the moral of the famous story of the Jukes and the Kallikaks. That cautionary tale was included in high school textbooks as late as the 1950s (I know because I read those textbooks in high school).
Now, as Cody writes, eugenics is presented as a new and liberal idea, meant to bring help to those students who need it most. The lesson of the last century is: Beware Unintended consequences. Beware of giving to anyone the power to decree which lives are worthy based on “genetic markers.” In the 1930s, Hitler turned that philosophy into bloody reality.
Genetic testing is, indeed, another form of data collection and perhaps a natural extension of our nation’s obsession with testing and data. …
Read at Rutgers in 82. Great book that explains the history of this nonsense.
The Mismeasure of Man is a 1981 book by evolutionary biologist, paleontologist, and historian of science Stephen Jay Gould.
Nice little cheat sheet below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mismeasure_of_Man
Let’s not forget Eugenics and Bill Gates:
“Eugenics and Bill Gates: Software billionaire Bill Gates, who previously has advocated the reduction of the human population through the use of vaccines, and his wife Melinda marked the 100th year since the First International Eugenics Congress in London with a “family planning” summit with abortionists and the United Nations.”
I just Googled “Bill Gates link to Eugenics movement” and came up with 1.29 million hits. The previous quote came from one of them.
I think that the higher education institutions involved in this work need to be called out by name, along with the foundations who are supporting it and USDE for it’s own role in encouraging this.
The bright light needs to shine on these institutions along with some vivid revivals in memory of every god-awful consequence in history of “eugenics-will-solve-this” thinking. Some of these efforts claimed to be “innocent” but they were devastating. Some were devastating from the get go.
So we have moved from “closing the achievement gap” by blaming teachers, principals, schools, students, and parents to a theory that “it is the gene pool” and all we need to do is find the “learning” genes.
This is not science fiction. This is the fantasy of researchers who ought to know better and ought to be reigned in by the ethical principles of doing research on “human subjects.”
Readers of this blog probably know that this research is not that far removed from the triage being performed on teachers by VAM–value-added metrics. The thinking is “you are insufficiently productive of learning” and therefore must be fired.
It is literally true that VAM-based evaluations of teachers, schools, and districts originated from the work of Dr. William Sanders, a statistician specializing in agricultural genetics at the University of Tennessee. He developed the value-added assessments of teachers and become the senior statistician at SAS, a company whose proprietary software programs are designed for value-added growth measures based on comparisons of test scores. His formulas are sold through SAS. In Ohio and many more states, the result of these formulas count for 50% os a teacher’s evaluation.
The American Statistical Association finally said, in effect, “Don’t use VAM to rate individual teachers.” Nice, but the that crude tool for doing a triage on teachers has already been hardwired into policies. Too little and too late with a clear position.
It is useful to restate some rudimentary ideas about genetic engineering not only as the source of statistical methods for evaluating educational outcomes, but also as a metaphor operating just below a threshold of public and professional discussion in re-engineering education.
Genetics is the study of ways to alter or select traits of plants and animal species–think seeds, sows, and cows. The studies are made in order to perfect ways to propagate superior traits, accelerate genetic improvement, and engineer transformations that incorporate new features (e.g., capacity to resist disease), or new functions (e.g., terminator seeds that grow sterile plants).
The technologies of genetic engineering also have unintended consequences. Among major risks are disturbing a thriving ecological system, doing harm to strengths in existing species, unexpected and toxic reactions to changes introduced into reproductive systems, and the development of resistance to engineered interventions.
Other concerns bear on unhealthy concentrations of traits by inbreeding, and the irreversibility of these processes.
Although selected techniques of statistical estimation (e.g., mixed model analysis of variance, “percent cumulative norm gain”) have uses across many contexts in and beyond education, other lessons that might be learned from genetic engineering as a metaphor (and program) in education have been left unexamined.
In any case, value-added scores help to define an effective teacher or an effective “intervention” as one that raises test scores, IRRESPECTIVE of the method of doing so. If genetic engineering and eugenics does the job, just do it. Variants of this dangerous policy thinking have been endorsed for decades in the United States.
I think the key word is “triage”.
The corporate Charters keep only the easiest children to work with and get rid of the rest, who will be marked for the eugenics program and/or the pipeline to private-sector for-profit corporate prisons where they will serve out their life sentence unable to have children.
This is how humans adapted pets like dogs and horses to be docile and conform to be docile and serve humans—for instance, sheep dogs that were bred for a specific purpose.
The corporate funded, fake, public education reform movement and Eugenics has an obvious end goal to domesticate the human species to serve the 1% without complaining.
Laura, your posts are brilliant. What a delight! I appreciate, immensely, your scholarship, your wisdom, your decency.
OMG, this kind of inbreeding = huge problems. Examine history.
This is supported by the same folks who promote GMOs and fight the listing of GMOs on food labels.
They should be charged with Crimes Against Humanity.
More than just charged.
Are the Gates slipping things into vaccines that sterilize people?
Melinda Gates, in an interview, said their foundation was working on a birth control device that could be implanted in the body.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/10/wireless-birth-control_n_5568336.html
Coming to a Common Core classroom near you.
This is just outrageous. But it’s not surprising. Genetics researchers continue to push poor science and dubious statistics as if were Newtonian physics, make all sorts of gently hedged policy recommendations, and then claim that they’re just scientists who are
just following ordersdoing their jobs. Don’t even get me started on what crap this work is.I strongly recommend Edwin Black’s boom, War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race, a history of the eugenics movement in America. Black is well known for his excellent book, IBM and the Holocaust, which exposed how closely American industry worked with the Nazis thoroughout World War II.
Rather than read Brave New World…it appears we may soon be living it.
My thoughts exactly! Brave New World indeed!
“Rather than read Brave New World…it appears we may soon be living it.”
MAY soon be living it?
Brave New World 1932 A. Huxley
“Within the NEXT generation, the rulers will discover that infant
conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments
of government, than clubs and prisons and the lust for power can
be satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude.”
“Ask not what your country…”
This is timely considering many are upset about the revised AP US history course. As a nation, we need to remember our wrongdoings as well as celebrate the good we do, and strive do better in the future. I plan to track down a copy of the book you mentioned. Thanks for posting.
This is an eye-opening book. I strongly second that recommendation.
Diane, BEWARE is right. This is scary stuff and will lead to no good.
VAM scores and common core tests will be the new social and intellectual tool of eugenics. Humanity, reduced to numbers, ceases to be humanity. Brave New World may soon be ours!
Everyone better wake up. FERPA was unlocked by President Obama allowing biometric data on students to be shared without the knowledge or consent of parents. The new name given to this new agenda is called the “learning genome.” It’s about the whole child. Please read our Press Release from parents in Pennsylvania who are requesting Gobernor Corbett to stop the data collection on students. It was FERPA that allowed personally identifiable information to be released on our children. After we quested the contracts, our Press Release has gone viral. Here it is:
http://abcsofdumbdown.blogspot.com/2014/11/pa-citizens-ask-gov-corbett-for-data.html
The way it works. Teachers are graded on student test scores and career ended if those scores are low. Teachers then perform selection by focusing only on students who offer the best “return” in the form of high test scores from limited time. The selection effect is amplified by increasing class sizes and focusing only on families unable to afford private schools (being exempt). Hence, we breed future generations of excellent test takers who question nothing and are ruled by those privately educated.
I highly recommend to all Edwin Black’s brilliant history of the eugenics movement in the United States, War Against the Weak: Eugenics and America’s Campaign to Create a Master Race
Among other choice bits: A few American moguls established the Cold Spring Harbor Eugenics Laboratory, with ongoing assistance from the U.S. government, and that organization, in addition to pushing standardized IQ testing on the schools, strict immigration quotas, and mandatory sterilization laws across the nation, issued a report recommending that the bottom 10 percent of the population be EUTHANIZED.
You can’t make this stuff up. The reality is breathtakingly shocking.
Also, “IBM and the Holocaust.” Edwin Black understands data collection. IBM helped Hitler identify the Jews with his sorting machine. His book is pretty explosive. The numbers tattooed on arms of Jews were the numbers given to them through the IBM system. Astonishing that Pennsylvania parents just released a Press Release about a national ID where every student and every teacher was given a “unique ID.” Pennsylvania is the national model.
http://abcsofdumbdown.blogspot.com/2014/11/pa-citizens-ask-gov-corbett-for-data.html
IBM and the Holocaust is another great book by Black. Also on this topic, by Black, Nazi Nexus: America’s Corporate Connections to the Holocaust.
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/328-121/10198-focus-ibm-at-auschwitz-new-documents
Also quite good is The Nazi Connection: Eugenics, American Racism, and German National Socialism, by Stefan Kuhl.
As an undergraduate and graduate psychology student we discussed these things. Few people realize the true history and desired purpose of standardized testing. Stanford University, thanks to Termin, and the Ivy League, thanks to the likes of Watson and Skinner has led us down this path. It won’t be long before they destroy the public schools and then admit, teachers (theirs) are not the problem, they just do not have the right genetic material to work with. They will then turn to the vapid philosophy of Ayn Rand, take their bucks, and leave. I am hoping for a replay of the French Revolution if they do this.
Let me add to the reading list if it isn’t too full: A disgusting little tome that tells you what academia really thinks of us, Beyond Freedom and Dignity by B.F. Skinner. Others are subtly taking up his plan.
There’s an excellent treatment of the early history of IQ testing in Diane Ravtich’s Left Back.
Don’t forget to include the Cold Spring Laboratory in Long Island, which was integral to the spread of this pseudo-science.
Oh, and by the way, can we mention the Nazis now? There does happen to be a direct historical connection between the American infatuation with the “science” of racial purity and its logical expression in central and eastern Europe during the 1940’s.
There is also direct overlap between eugenicist “research” done at Cold Spring in the early 20th century and so-called education reform today, via their mutual funding by the Carnegie Corporation/Institute, which funded the previous iteration of eugenics, and is funding the current one in the schools.
Looking at the assumptions, ideologies and practices underpinning behaviorist boot camps like KIPP in the context of eugenicist ideology is long overdue.
Here’s a link to a Guardian article about Black’s work: http://www.theguardian.com/UK/2004/feb/06/race/USA
The comment thread at the article is helpful to put both the author and his report in perspective. My only question is why the NYT chose to give it an Op-Ed. Judging from the mere 40-odd comments & their content, they don’t know their readership very well.
Reblogged this on whatisarealeducation and commented:
Shocking. I didn’t see that coming. But I should have. It’s a continuation of the fascism theme that keeps emerging in the rhetoric and actions of the corporate “reformers”and their government allies.
To Dr. Ravitch and all readrers in this website:
Please be kind enough to confirm that this below thread is in Dr. Ravitch website:
“Please Support NPE on #GivingTuesday
by dianeravitch
The Network for Public Education needs your help on December 2. We are running a national fundraiser on social media. Learn more about NPE here.”
And there are many provided links, as follows:
#Give2NPE on #GivingTuesday! thndr.it/11EquMu To become a member or make a donation Click HERE: http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/about-npe/become-a-member/
If you care about our public schools please #Give2NPE on #GivingTuesday Help us protect, preserve & strengthen them! https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/19878-give2npe-on-givingtuesday
WE ARE MANY. THERE IS POWER IN OUR NUMBERS. #Give2NPE on #GivingTuesdayhttp://thunderclap.it/projects/19878 Donate here: http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/about-npe/become-a-member/
TOGETHER WE WILL SAVE OUR SCHOOLS. #Give2NPE on #GivingTuesdayhttp://thunderclap.it/projects/19878 Donate here: http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/about-npe/become-a-member/
If you can afford to make a small donation to NPE: #Give2NPE on #GivingTuesdayhttp://thunderclap.it/projects/19878 Donate here: http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/about-npe/become-a-member/
Together we protect, preserve, strengthen public schools. #Give2NPE on #GivingTuesday http://thunderclap.it/projects/19878 Donate: http://www.networkforpubliceducation.org/about-npe/become-a-member/
Today, I receive an email from edX which addresses the like as in Dr. Ravitch’s website, such as:
“This #GivingTuesday give the gift of education,…”
I do not mind to support NPE because I respect and admire Dr. Ravitch’s dedication, effort, and good will. However, it is quite bizarre to be duped by some con artist who manages to manipulate and to abuse in hacking in Dr. Ravitch’s website for Paypal’s donation.
Here is the receipt that I got from Paypal:
Donation Details
Confirmation number: 6W441137H6444541H
Donation amount: $50.00 USD
From Amount: $58.36 CAD
To Amount: $50.00 USD
Exchange Rate: 1 Canadian Dollar = 0.856751 U.S. Dollars
Purpose: Network for Public Education
Contributor: May King
Also, the thread “”Please Support NPE on #GivingTuesday by dianeravitch” will show that this thread is invalid when I click on the comment link.
Thank you very much for your precious time and kindness to give me some hints or answers about this mystery. Yours truly, Back2basic
Back2Basic,
It sounds like someone in Canada hacked the NPE appeal. NPE is based in Tucson because that is where our executive director Robin Hiller lives. You should complain to Paypal and demand a refund.
Diane
Thank you Dr. Ravitch:
Couldn’t your NPE organization receive my donation directly from Paypal?
I am sorry to be lazy in mailing and going to the bank for US money order. I thought Paypal can help me easily, until I find that the thread was invalid.
Thank you for your quick response. May King
May, Definitely contact PayPal because they can make sure that your payment goes to the right place.
Dear Dr. Ravitch:
I am sorry to trouble you with the mistrust of hackers due to the invalid thread.
My only concern is about my personal security questions that would be in the hand of hackers more than a small amount of donation.
I have received a confirmation from Robin Hiller, as shown below;
Robin Hiller
to: may.king@gmail.com
date: Wed, Dec 3, 2014 at 9:19 PM
subject: Thanks(for)Giving
Dear May,
Thank you for your generous donation of $50.00 to the Network for Public Education and for being a part of the fight to protect public education. Diane had said there might have been a problem with the receipt you got from Paypal. If you are still having a problem, please let me know.
Thank you again.
As Diane Ravitch says, “We are many. There is power in our numbers. Together we will save our schools.”
All the best,
Robin Hiller
Executive Director
Network for Public Education
P.O. Box 44200
Tucson, Az 85733
Please save this receipt for your tax returns. Voices for Education, a non-profit 501c3 is the fiscal sponsor of The Network for Public Education. EIN#: 86-0996116. No goods or services were received for this donation.
However, I already cancelled my visa because I am afraid of its misuse from con artist(s) if the link is truly phishing.
Thank you again for your dedication in protecting our democracy. Could Mr. Hiller give a tax receipt in your name as per my instruction?
I survived twice in the ocean because I would prefer to die with my inner peace than to live in frustration under inhumane rules from communist government (= capitalism without respect for humanity)
People in America are generally very gullible with empty promise from cruel, greedy, and lusty leadership that is corrupted by business tycoons. Hopefully, all educators from all sectors in public and in private will come together in order to cultivate each other, and then to cultivate parents, students about insane VAM, CCSS, and Rttt.
If America win this battle, then the world can have a hope to believe in democracy. Most of all, the public educational system in Canada will need a guidance from American Public Education how to fight back the corruption or invasion of business tycoons soon. Back2basic
I wrote a post on this article by Jay Belsky, which was a bit more nuanced than Cody suggests and raised a whole series of ethical dilemmas for me. I appreciated Belsky’s acknowledgement that the quandary we face regarding early intervention is in part based on the reality that funds for intervention will be limited. Most arguments for equitable treatment of children— including many advanced in this blog (and mine)— are based on the rosy assumption that because we have a moral imperative to provide equity we will raise whatever money is needed to ensure that we can achieve equity. And most who argue for early intervention— including me— base their advocacy on the assumption that early intervention plans would be customized based on the unique needs of each child. Furthermore a case can be made that we are already on the path of providing medically-based programming for children: IEPs are based on the findings of a school psychologist and 504 plans are often framed based on the recommendations of physicians and both IEPS and 504s address conditions that have their roots in genetic differences. On coldly logical basis it seems to me that adding genetic counselors to the list of “medical advisors” is not that much of a leap… and yet the notion that genetics might play a role in public policy DOES seem chilling… especially if we are unable to develop some means of intervening in cases where children are NOT affected by their developmental experiences, which appears to be the case in the research findings cited by Belsky.
I concluded my post with this question: IF we can determine a childs’s responsiveness to developmental experiences through a genetic test, should we include such a test as part of a child’s initial pediatric screening? I’ll leave you with that question to ponder…. I haven’t reached a clear answer as yet… http://waynegersen.com/2014/11/29/genes-and-pre-…thical-dilemma/
This is a big ethics question, and what makes it difficult is that most scientists who work in this field will never actually be confronted with this question. Like engineers (and, in fact, like people in general), scientists try to solve problems, and they will always try to use the best information and methods available. So genetics science will continue to advance and ultimately be put to practical use outside of research labs. Advanced eugenics, in some form, will probably be one of those uses.
Perhaps, but what rarely gets mentioned is that, as C.S. Lewis wrote in his prophetic essay, “The Abolition of Man,”
“What we call Man’s power over nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men, with Nature as its instrument.”
Homo Economus…
This may be a corollary to what I was saying — i.e., like engineers or scientists, rational people will always try to use the best information and methods available to solve problems. For some people, the problem that needs solving is how to remove constraints on their power. And extraordinarily wealth allows people to act very rationally and provides access to the very best information and methods.
Well, they may be acting “rationally” from the (widely discredited) perspective of homo economicus, but the perspective of children’s needs and the public good, they are utterly deranged.
Sorry, that should read, … “from the perspective of children’s needs…”
To Teacher Ed:
Thank you for your suggestion. I have cancelled my visa and am waiting for Paypal’s answer.
Luckily, I just attempted to donate a small amount as a token of my appreciation to Dr. Ravitch’s dedication to American Public Education.
If NPE issue a receipt for income tax return, I will prefer to give it to Dr. Ravitch. As a result, I will send my personal cheque to the attention of Dr. Ravitch through NPE’s address.
I already gave my personal info to the PHISHING links. Now, I am vulnerable to their hacking techniques to my financial aspect, such as personal security question styles…
Paypal does not directly deal with my donation, but people behind the phishing links use their own account with Paypal to get my gullible/stupid trust in Dr. Ravitch’s safe website to give them my donation and some critical personal info.
As per my mother’s advice, all SH*T are the same, but in different formats (or piles = sources). My stupid mistake comes from the blind trust in the safety of technology from the reliable website.
Truly yours,
May King