Surprising Science — August 19, 2010

Value Analysis of Teachers

Much of excellent teaching involves intangibles but if data can show that some teachers are far better than others, the public should know, argues Op-Ed editor Sue Horton.

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It’s easy to dismiss test scores as reflecting a school’s socioeconomic makeup more than teaching abilities, admits L. A. Times Op-Ed editor Sue Horton. And she agrees that much of learning, and excellent teaching, “involves intangible things that happen during the school day, interactions between students and teachers that defy quantification.” However she says the public should know if the data shows that some public school teachers are far better than others at helping kids master the essentials. ‘Value-added’ analyses could identify the most effective teachers and what they are doing right.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

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