Race To The Bottom

One major problem with "higher test scores = more money for your school" is that there is incentive to "rig the deck" before the exams are officially scored. I know the prospect of teachers and administrators changing answers on their students' exams to be correct is "unthinkable". However, there have been a lot things done that were thought to be "unthinkable" before they were done. Most people know that all levels of Public Education are currently working with their backs against the wall and their heads on the chopping block. Programs have even been created to help relieve some of the pain. A perfect example of such a program: "Race to The Top". The "Race to the Top" program was good in theory, but perhaps in practice it does not take into account one very important variable: The Human Condition. If we do a little digging, perhaps we are beginning to see the Hobbesian idea of man's inherent self-interest come to light in classrooms and schools all across the United States as the "race" gets more and more important. Case in point: DC schools. A great article was written today about DC schools and the "discrepancies" found with their exam scores as their schools were racing to the tip top with Michelle Rhee (Former DC Chancellor) running anchor. I wonder with all this racing around if anyone has stopped to ask: What is lost while everyone is caught up in "the race"? AND What will the state of education look like once we've reach "the top". Personally, all this running around reminds of The Myth of Sisyphus. Absurdity anyone???

The USA Today Article