Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Opposing U.S. Chamber’s Prescriptions for Schools

March 27, 2007 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s scorecard on leaders and laggards in public education is full of sound, and a tiny amount of fury (“U.S. Chamber Adds Business Viewpoint on Schools’ Quality,” March 7, 2007). Unfortunately, it doesn’t signify much. Grades may make people proud or depressed, but they just don’t say much about what works.

The chamber trots out the old horses of longer school days, merit pay, and abolishing tenure, apparently hoping that another lap around the track will make those arguments persuasive. They don’t quite get it. They still think that harder work, pay incentives, and threats will, magically, produce better results. They won’t.

Schools are complicated. There are dozens of things that can be changed, but few that make a difference. Here is a list of high-leverage changes that might do some good:

1. Develop a serious, districtwide intervention system that addresses inappropriate social behavior and poor learning habits.

2. Develop an effective, frequent feedback system that not only provides useful data, but also quickly alerts teachers and students when an idea has not been “mastered.” Teachers can then focus on real learning, instead of bartering paper-based work for a grade.

3. Create a guaranteed, viable curriculum. Stop the mile-wide and inch-deep test-prep curriculum. Students need to engage the material and make personal meaning out of it. This isn’t done by racing through the garden.

4. Make helping teachers become educational experts and leaders a priority—a value that is acknowledged and highlighted. Artful teachers engage and inspire students. Expert teachers should not be taken out of the classroom. They should, however, be given time to share their expertise with others.

5. Emphasize literacy. Most student failure is connected to poor or careless or indifferent reading skills and habits. Though a great deal is known about literacy, many teachers are not skilled at teaching it.

6. Educate all students. This means rethinking how school systems are organized to engage students with varying interests, backgrounds, and values.

Notice that the list centers on the classroom almost exclusively. That’s where the action is. That’s where high-leverage change can make a difference. Without it, reform turns out to be little more than changing the color of hubcaps while revving up the engine of politics and blame.

Bill Harshbarger

Consultant

Mattoon High School

Mattoon, Ill.

A version of this article appeared in the March 28, 2007 edition of Education Week as Opposing U.S. Chamber’s Prescriptions for Schools

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
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
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

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

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP