Unintended Consequences?

Joshua Benton:
TAKS push not so equal

Monday, September 19, 2005

Sometimes it takes an outsider.

Something you've seen a thousand times may seem as normal as heat in a Texas summer – until someone new stops in and points out just how wrong it is.

That's how I felt when I read an academic paper by Jennifer Booher-Jennings, a grad student at Columbia. She spent months observing how a Texas elementary school prepared for the TAKS test. (She promised not to reveal its identity in exchange for the access.)

Her paper didn't tell me much I hadn't seen repeatedly across the state. But I'd never really stopped to think through the damage well-meaning educators can cause in pursuit of a high passing rate and a good school rating.

This article is disturbing, yet (I fear) accurate. For the rest of this article, click the link. The Dallas Morning News site does require you to register (no cost) before reading its articles.