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Jay Mathews: Elite Colleges Don't Make Elite People

March 10, 2010

I promised a high school counselor in California I would update a very old online column whose printout on her wall is too faded to read. It asked a question I think students immersed in college visiting and application writing should consider: Where did your heroes go to college?

Jay Mathews: Retest D.C. Classes That Had Dubious Exam Results in '08

March 10, 2010

My colleague Bill Turque's energetic coverage of suspicious erasures on D.C. school standardized tests in 2008 reminds me of my attempt many years ago to delve into the only classroom cheating scandal ever to become a major motion picture.

Today's Class Struggle

March 10, 2010

This Class Struggle RSS subscription has changed. To continue getting Class Struggle by Jay Mathews visit washingtonpost.com/class-struggle.

Banging on the PK-16 Pipeline

March 10, 2010

Looking for this week's Class Struggle? You can find it on Jay's new blog at washingtonpost.com/class-struggle.

Gerald Bracey, 69, Dead; Acidic Critic of Education Policy

March 10, 2010

Gerald W. Bracey, 69, one of the most erudite, prolific and acidic critics of national education policy, died unexpectedly early Oct. 20 at his home in Port Townsend, Wash.

Jay Mathews: What should Fairfax do about Jefferson grades?

March 10, 2010

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has the highest SAT scores in the country and probably is the best high school in many other ways. But is it too good for the rules that govern the other high schools in Fairfax County?

Jay Mathews

March 10, 2010

Politicians and pundits are using results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests to say our kids are falling behind the rest of the world, so maybe we should get some PISA practice. Brookings Institution scholar Tom Loveless, a member of the U.S. advisory board to PISA, offered this sample question for 15-year-olds from the mathematics literacy section of the exam:

Jay Mathews on Campaign Promises and Virginia Schools

March 10, 2010

Political candidates, like the two gentlemen running for governor of Virginia, are always sincere about their education platforms. Their to-do lists are long. Their concern about the state's children is deep. But the proposals they offer, like more efficiency at school headquarters or more pay for teachers, seem to be focused on appealing to voters and not improving schools.

Gifted Student Is Being Held Back By Graduation Rules

March 10, 2010

Anyone who wants to appreciate how strong a grip high school has on the American imagination -- and how clueless some school districts are about this -- should consider the story of Drew Gamblin, a 16-year-old student at Howard High School in Ellicott City.

Donald Fisher, 81; Gap Founder Championed Charter Schools

March 10, 2010

Donald G. Fisher, 81, a founder of the Gap clothing store chain and a power behind the growth of U.S. public charter schools, died of cancer Sept. 27 at his home in San Francisco.

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