I’ve written a number of posts over the years skeptical of the central role research from many economists have played in “school reform” efforts. I certainly don’t dismiss their work. I just view it in the context of being data-informed and not being data-driven. In other words, the numbers and the models used in many studies don’t tell the whole story.
Here are my choices for The Best Posts & Articles About The Role Of Economists In Education:
I’ll start off with Rick Hess’ new piece, The Trouble With Economists.
Quote Of The Day: “Should We Trust Economists?”
Economists: Return Your Salaries for Producing Flawed Studies is by Barnett Berry.
“Muddled Models” — A View Of Economists From…The Economist Magazine
The pitfalls of putting economists in charge of education is by Diane Ravitch.
Can’t Economists Stay Away From Schools? Don’t They Have Enough Other Things To Do?
Part Two Of “Can’t Economists Stay Away From Schools?” — My Worst Fears Realized
The Best Posts On “Loss Aversion” & Schools
The Best Posts On The NY Times-Featured Teacher Effectiveness Study
“Must-Read” NY Times Article On Recent Teacher-Effectiveness Study
Stephen Colbert Explains Why It’s Important To Be “Data-Informed” & Not “Data-Driven”
Laura H. Chapman: When Economic Language Corrupts Educational Practice is from Diane Ravitch’s blog.
Great News! Only 2 Of Top 308 New Economists Want To Study Schools
Quote Of The Day: “Economists are terrible at predictions”
Guest Post: Economists & Education
Peter Greene: What Do Economists Know About Teachers? is from Diane Ravitch’s blog.
Second Quote Of The Day: Economists Often Forget That “Context Matters”
Additional suggestions are welcome.
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Greetings.
I have started in on reading these several articles. Thanks for posting them.
The way I see it, (capitalist) economists see flesh-and-blood human beings as human “capital” and human “resources.”
That’s not how (most) teachers view their students.
I’m reminded of something I read several years ago. I’m not sure how valid or accurate it is: “Elementary teachers love their students; high school teachers love their subjects; university professors love themselves.”
The problem with economists’ analyses of student achievement is that humans have “agency,” as compared to, for example, a biologically-active (macro-) molecule. A molecule is not necessarily going to interrupt a teacher in mid-sentence.
I think the university professor comment is more rather than less unwarranted. I think they love their subjects (seems one have to be in love with ones subject to get a Ph.D. in it, eh?), though, perhaps it is rather rare that a given professor – as compared with a K-12 teacher – takes a sincere, focused interest in student flourishing, considering that professors sometimes ply their pedagogical trade in rather large lecture halls.
Is there anything an economist – by virtue of BEING an economist – is not qualified to hold forth on? (Ditto a Romneyesque MBA/JD)