Paul Thomas proposes that educators must set goals for other crucial sectors of our society.
After all, there is such low confidence in other institutions, and it is our joint responsibility to do what we can to restore confidence for the good of society.
If we do not solve the crisis of our times, we will lose the global competition to other nations that are not only catching up with us but surpassing us on many dimensions.
First, we must reorganize the timely delivery of packages. Thomas proposes the funding of Deliver for America, a pool of temporary drivers to replace the professional drivers at Fedex.
Second–and this is critical–he proposes a nationwide evaluation of political leaders based on their value added, measuring “their positive impact on the people they represent.” Every elected official would take a standardized test and the bottom 25% would be fired every year.
Third–also of national importance–a nationwide evaluation of the media, especially editorial boards and opinion writers, based on standardized measures of the relationship between the research base and their writings. The bottom 25% would be fired every year, depending on the accuracy of their proposals.
We can’t delay. Our national security depends on setting goals and acting promptly without delay to review and evaluate these–and other-sectors of our economy.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yes! ‘Deliver for America’ – great idea! Also, if Politicians were evaluated according to the way they are effective and motivating group leaders (the way that teachers are required to motivate students under the current status quo) – they might be measured according to the way their constituents are ‘with them’, running in the opposite direction, or, ignoring them. The latter two would require termination.
Great read . Makes lots of sense. Let the politicians know how it feels . They would fail. Will share this clip.
Fourth: A complete penny by penny audit of the Department of War, oops I mean Defense as mandated by law. Hasn’t been done yet so now is the year to start.
(See state department of education “leaders” (sic) you and public school administrators can also ignore congressional federal mandates, i.e., NCLB and RaTT, and not have to worry about any repercussions. It’s just you all don’t have the cojones that the military brass has molded for themselves.)
Value Added Measures, when applied to other disciplines, seem completely farcical.
Why is education such an easy target for this bunk?
You mean I can’t judge my dentist by the number of cavities his patients have?
Of course you can, it just won’t be valid. You know that minor little detail in regards to discerning reality.
In almost every area the Democrats have accepted how the Republicans have framed the debate. The Democrats need to stop being nice Republicans.
You have an oxymoron in your last sentence.
I’m in my 60s. There used to be moderate and even liberal Republicans. Then Reagan and his bunch slowly got rid of them all.
To add the requisite panic and feeling of urgency, I believe that each article addressed in the media whether via tv, internet etc.. should have a clock ticking down the time (to a nano second) until reaching the next new year. Each hard copy newspaper should have a visible time range posted too (time it was at publication and time until the next publication). Everyone should be in a state of panic in order to ensure the “ed reformers” succeed in “re forming” us. Ughh!
I should add that we too succeed in “re forming” all other sectors of society. Have an article on Congressional breaks coupled with a clock running as to return of Congress and what they must do along with a goal setting agenda to be completed by each congressional member. They must also self assess themselves in of course the Danielson FFT style and their “boss” .. we the people must have viewing rights to their Goal Setting Forms and include SLO’s (society learning outcomes). Let them choose a segment of the population in their district and literally have to count them and factor in a percentage and chart each and every one of their target group at specified intervals during the year. “How is that Mr. Smith doing with his insurance billing?” “Didn’t you promise in your campaign and on your goal setting form to make insurance billing easier? Hmm… reflect on that for a moment.
“…reflect on that for a moment.”
in writing.
What tongue-in-cheek fun! I like imagining our leadership taking a standardized test to see if they were competent. Even with a fair rubric, many would fail. If you watch C-Span you have first class evidence of their stupidity. I suppose that’s the fault of public schools or perhaps they were home schooled.
I won’t last names, but there are potential failures in both parties.
I won’t list names.
LOVE IT.
Great & funny post!