http://epn.org/prospect/36/36rothfs.html
It's from The American Prospect, a liberal rag, but what the hay!
Summary of another article from a later issue (not on the Web yet):
A glance at the March-April issue of The American Prospect:
Sloppy reporting on education reform
For decades, the news media have uncritically reported on
studies,
often based on dubious research, that purport to show that
American
schoolchildren are far behind their peers in other
countries, writes
Gerald W. Bracey, the author of several books on education
statistics.
Respected studies have shown that American students rank
high in
reading, slightly below average in mathematics, and
slightly above
average in science. Yet American reporters tend to find
flaws in those
studies or to ignore them completely, he says. In fact,
one study on
reading was so neglected by the press that the U.S.
Department of
Education was moved to re-release it four years after it
was
completed.
Some American schools need reforms, Mr. Bracey writes, but
the
media should focus on those that most need help, and not
tar all
public schools with the serious problems of a few.
***********************************************************************
Ron Force rforce@uidaho.edu
Dean of Library Services (208) 885-6534
University of Idaho 83844
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