The Answer Sheet: George Wood


Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 10/21/2011

No! Not another education commission!
By Valerie Strauss
In yet another signal that the one-size-fits-all approach of No Child Left Behind is not working (as if we need one), policy makers in Ohio are pointing to an ever-growing number of college students needing remedial work.  Of course, every such problem provides a chance to convene yet another commission — and here it is, the “Regional Consortia for P-20 Alignment.”

By Valerie Strauss  |  01:01 PM ET, 10/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood

Posted at 04:00 AM ET, 08/15/2011

The wrong — and right way — to manage a school district
By Valerie Strauss
A veteran educator talks about the right way and the wrong way to manage a school system as he takes on a double role this academic year: high school principal and district superintendent.

By Valerie Strauss  |  04:00 AM ET, 08/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 01/30/2011

Democracy in schools: Preached but not practiced
By Valerie Strauss
Schools are supposed to teach democracy, develop engaged and responsible citizens, and create an intelligent and street-smart electorate. Most don’t.

By Valerie Strauss  |  11:45 AM ET, 01/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood, George Wood, George Wood, George Wood

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 01/06/2011

A principal on standardized vs. teacher-written tests
By Valerie Strauss
Educator George Wood urges Congress not to rely on standardized tests to measure achievement. If you don't think that "data-driven decision-making" is really test-driven decision making, consider this: Ohio’s school report cards consist of 26 “data” points, and 24 of them—92%--are test scores.

By Valerie Strauss  |  05:00 AM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood, George Wood, George Wood, George Wood | Tags:  arne duncan, disaggregated data, education secretary duncan, elementary and secondary school act, esea, esea reauthoraization, george word, nclb, new congress, new york performance assessment consortium, no child left behind, reauthorization of no child left behind, standardized tests

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 11/10/2010

Why the Education Dept. should be eliminated -- Wood
By Valerie Strauss
School principal George Wood, acknowledging that "it is peculiar for someone who values education to be arguing for what has often been a very conservative position," explains why he thinks the Education Department should be eliminated.

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 11/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood | Tags:  ed department, education department, eliminate the education department, george wood, guest bloggers

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 09/21/2010

The danger of blaming schools for economic woes
By Valerie Strauss
Principal George Wood writes: "It’s funny how the start of school also marks the unofficial start of the fall campaign season. What isn’t funny is how so many politicians running for office blame kids for our faltering economy."

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 09/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood, George Wood | Tags:  a nation at risk, blaming schools, blaming teachers, george wood, gulf oil spill, public schools, schools and economy

Posted at 12:03 PM ET, 09/14/2010

A state ranking scandal: Not So Smart, ALEC
By Valerie Strauss
Principal George Wood dissects a ranking system of states on school performance and reform that doesn't make sense.

By Valerie Strauss  |  12:03 PM ET, 09/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood, George Wood | Tags:  ALEC, American Legislative Exchange Councilranking, NAEP and states, florida and ranking, george wood, louisiana and ranking, massachusetts and ranking, michigan and ranking, new hampshire and ranking, new mexico and ranking, new york and ranking, performance rankings, performance ratings, ranking states, reform rankings, school reform rankings, state ratings, state school rankings, vermont and ranking

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 08/06/2010

Principal: Not the change I had in mind
By Valerie Strauss
A principal writes: "I am still not over the sadness and anger I feel over what happened to my colleague, [principal] Joyce Irvine.... Parents are grateful for her leadership, she knows all of her students, she launched innovative programs, her teachers and her superintendent give her high marks, and even her U.S. senator has praised her work. And she has been fired."

By Valerie Strauss  |  06:00 AM ET, 08/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  George Wood, George Wood, George Wood, George Wood | Tags:  George Wood, Joyce Irvine, Race to the top, education reform, principal fired, race to the top policies, school reform, vermont principal