Opinion
Teaching Letter to the Editor

Differentiation Essay Offered ‘Strident, Cynical’ Parody

January 20, 2015 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

I am deeply ashamed of you for publishing the Commentary “Differentiation Doesn’t Work.” It presents a ridiculous parody of differentiation. You should know better.

Possibly you could solicit submissions from educators who have well-developed and tested models that work. The author’s straw man wouldn’t.

All you do by publishing this kind of strident, cynical stuff is to fuel cynicism. There are plenty of real issues to address.

Bruce Joyce

Director

Booksend Laboratories

Saint Simons Island, Ga.

A version of this article appeared in the January 21, 2015 edition of Education Week as Differentiation Essay Offered ‘Strident, Cynical’ Parody

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Measuring What Matters: How District Leaders Are Redefining Student Assessment
In this panel discussion, district leaders and systems experts will examine the gap between the outcomes we want and the systems in place.
Content provided by Otus
Early Childhood Webinar Selling Into Early Learning: New Survey Data and Strategies for Marketers
Selling into PreK? Get fresh EdWeek Research Center data and strategies to position your products and reach the right early learning buyers.
Artificial Intelligence Webinar AI and 'Techlash' Are on a Collision Course. How Should Schools Respond?
Learn what strategies and tactics schools can develop to encourage smart and responsible AI use, while also enforcing tech guardrails.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Teaching Direct Instruction: What to Know About the Topic of the Next 'Sold a Story' Podcast
The Direct Instruction program and explicit instruction are in the spotlight again. What are they?
12 min read
Pages from the book How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Lessons by author Sigfried Englemann
Pages from the book <i>Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons</i> by the late professor Siegfried Engelmann. That book, which exemplifies Engelmann's step-by-step, scripted approach to instruction, continues to be popular with parents—but in education circles the technique, known as Direct Instruction, never took off. Engelmann's work is explored as part of a new season of the Sold a Story podcast.
Marvin Joseph/Education Week
Teaching Opinion A Teacher's Guide to Navigating Classroom Censorship Laws
How can educators handle laws constraining the instruction of "divisive concepts“?
5 min read
Paper cutouts of diverse business people holding hands in row with long shadow on warm background. Concept of teamwork, unity, partnership, and community support. Divisive Concepts, classroom censorship.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week + Getty
Teaching Opinion When Students Have Agency, Learning Flourishes. Here's Why
Creating the conditions for learners to thrive requires the right elements in the classroom.
6 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Opinion How to Intertwine the Science of Teaching With the Art of It
The best teachers rely on many strategies to meet the challenges that arise in the classroom.
8 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week