John Merrow of Learning Matters defends the recent L.A. Times series that analyzes individual teachers’ effectiveness—with names named—in connection with student test scores:
But is it wrong to speak the truth? Is it wrong to call out ineffective teachers?
Merrow argues that, on the contrary, it would be an injustice to be aware of data on teacher performance disparities and not reveal it—which is precisely what he charges many education officials of doing.
Not suprisingly, his post has sparked a raft of comments, from what reads like a veritable who’s who list in teaching and education policy. Check it out.