Follow the money

A somewhat less than gripping story in the Times about new criteria for teacher certification being developed in several states—uh, that's nice. Less testing, more live observation, that's still nicer. But it's a long story, and by paragraph 21 you're really wondering why it's there. Then,

The new system [in New York state] will require teachers to electronically submit their work, including the videos, for grading by trained evaluators who have been recruited by the education company Pearson.

Ah, Pearson!

“Our decisions are being outsourced,” said one faculty member at a state university in New York who supervises student teachers and asked not to be identified because she feared retribution from her employer.

And

At the University of Massachusetts, 67 of the 68 students in a program for future middle and high school teachers refused to submit two 10-minute videos of themselves teaching, as well as a 40-page take-home test. The students said that evaluators chosen by Pearson were not qualified to judge their abilities, and should not be allowed to do so over their own professors. 

It's that story, about another little hole being tapped in the public school system by corporate giants through which they can suck out more cash. It's just about always that story, nowadays, if you read it all the way down.

If you clicked the above link and wondered what Pineapplegate was, click below and find out:

(1) The Hare and the Pineapple, by Daniel Pinkwater. With comprehension questions. (2) Helplessly outraged commentary.

From W.I.L.D. Exploits.