Alan Singer compares Arne Duncan’s recent denunciation of over-testing–that is, his own policy in Race to the Top–to George W. Bush’s infamous victory speech in Iraq under a banner saying “Mission Accomplished.”
He notes that Duncan offers a one-year delay in using test scores to evaluate teachers, while the other leading voice in American education proposed a two-year moratorium. Wouldn’t you think a simple phone call between Arne and Bill could have settled the matter? You know, it’s not like states or local districts have anything to say about how or when teachers should be evaluated. This decision belongs to Arne and Bill.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s important to mention – every time the subject comes up – that neither Duncan nor Gates has ever demonstrated any expertise in evaluating teachers.
Duncan is a short timer and just padding his resume for a job at Pearson.
A country that declares “war” on teachers is a country with a less than stellar record in education. The day we get a successful educator for Secretary of Education will be the day we start to see authentic improvements in our system.
I volunteer!
“We are your teachers, we’ve become the enemy!”
Comments are open on Duncan’s “Back to School Conversation with Teachers…” Not too many likes of the 31 posted so far.
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/08/a-back-to-school-conversation-with-teachers-and-school-leaders/
Just responded. All here should.
Anyone want to guess what I said-ha ha ha!!!
Sarcasm, the perfect language in which to address this lamentable state of affairs. A one or two year moratorium on testing will not fix child poverty or standards that are not developmentally appropriate. Nor will it fix the inability of standardized testing to truly provide evidence of the work a teacher has done during the year to move his/her students forward..
Since Duncan will not be the education secretary for much longer, I imagine that the one year moratorium was a practical decision. Plus, I can’t imagine him mimicking Bill with a call for two years. He certainly does not want to openly admit from where he takes direction.
My comment is awaiting moderation at Arne’s website.
http://www.ed.gov/blog/2014/08/a-back-to-school-conversation-with-teachers-and-school-leaders/
LLC1923
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
about an hour ago
I’m in favor of evaluations for the US Department of Corporate Education using VAM algorithms.