The Global Achievement Gap-chp3

Well, this book is answering questions left and right.  The only problem is that for every answer ten more questions pop up!  This chapter was about assessments, always a hot topic for educators at all levels.  I argue that tests are often driven by politics and money, Wagner agrees on this point with me.  However, I feel like he starts to become part of the problem too.  By the end of the chapter we are all pointing fingers at each other again.  He really leads us towards some solutions, but then finishes with this "But, do we have the political will".  Now I say this is part of the problem because he often references NCLB as the fatal blow that derailed many of the new tests that were being developed in the 90s and he references "confronting academic and fiscal conservatives".  It becomes very clear what side of the aisle Mr. Wagner is on.  That is the main problem here, the fact that we have to be on one side of the aisle or the other.  As long as this is the case education will continue to get beaten up in the middle.  I live in a state where Scott Walker has proudly stood on one side and done nothing but damage public education, all over $.  I also live in a country where President Obama has done absolutely nothing to improve education, in fact he seems to have completely ignored it for the last 4 years.  You are right Mr. Wagner, the politics and financing of testing are the root of the problem.  My question is, will people check egos and step out of the past, put their pointed fingers away and ever change that?

Now I have to step off the soapbox and also question colleges.  What are the standards for students to be "college ready"?  I also had plenty of college courses that did not challenge my learning of the 7 skills and their exams were all about recall of facts, cookie cutter papers, etc....  I also question the financial gains of remedial courses at the college level.  Students still pay hefty tuition prices for those classes, don't they?  Don't get me started on the price of college in general......all I'm going to say is maybe some of that money should funnel back into K-12 and proper assessments at those levels.  I don't think colleges should get a free pass in this discussion.
Kevin