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ERIC Number: EJ767725
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0671
EISSN: N/A
Interview [with Dr. Gerald W. Bracey]
Journal of Educational Research, v100 n5 p324-327 May-Jun 2007
This article presents an interview with Dr. Gerald W. Bracey, author of "Reading Educational Research: How to Avoid Getting Statistically Snookered." During the interview, Bracey explains why he considers the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as a "weapon of mass destruction" and that he sees nothing to suggest that NCLB has improved schools. Responding to a question about why researchers and laypersons alike are "snookered" by statistics, he replies that he doesn't think researchers are snookered by statistics as much as they are by the overwhelming negativity surrounding public schools and that people lie in wait to prove the schools are terrible. He explains why he supports Fairfax County (Virginia) School's act of defiance by deciding not to make thousands of immigrant students take a federally mandated test, which they believed was unfair. He talks about how some schools treat Advanced Placement courses as something to encourage kids to take to see what a rough course looks like and to claim a high percentage of enrollment while other schools discourage kids from taking the course because they want a high test score average. Next, he discusses why he thinks that the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) levels are far too difficult. This follows with a discussion about why there would not be much of an improvement in poor areas until the government can provide for the needs of the kids outside of school. Finally, Bracey gives his opinions on national teacher certification, extending the public school day in the United States, whether year-round schooling would improve student achievement and test scores, and how his book on educational statistics could be used in teacher-education programs. He concludes by stating that his message runs counter to the "believe the worst" syndrome, and that to admit things are better would be to turn off the money spigot.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: No Child Left Behind Act 2001
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A