Libertarians and their Public University problems.

[Spider]

I've never heard of a good alternative to testing, though.

What other way is there to verify particular levels of learning? If a student is required to know things like the pythagorean theorem, who Magellan was, or just needs to demonstrate their reading comprehension by answering questions from a passage....what other way is there? How else do we make schools accountable for education outcomes?

Or should it all just be a free for all? Didn't learn shit in school? You're teacher was playing Angry Birds the whole time? No worries. Nobody is going to verify it one way or another.

Ya, I remember standardized tests. I'm not endorsing them...just haven't seen a better idea that was actually practical.

[Medius]

[The Comrade]

pretty sure their degree shows they know those things. what would you have them do, take yearly tests?

[Medius]

[Medius]

[The Dharma Bum]

to what end?

[broken robot]

Great post non. The problem now though is that with the UCs for example there's a massive state budget crisis and so they're doing the only thing policy makers know: cut funds for education and give the guys at the top pay raises. Over 700 people in the UC system earn more than the President, so the public sector is not by any means an unequivocal example of equality. Moreover class sizes are being increased, less full time faculty are doing the teaching and more temps, adjuncts, and grad students, oh and sneaky ways of raising tuition through arbitrary "student fees." Then they wonder why the quality of education is decreasing. Thank Reagan for starting the process of defunding the UCs.

Even with all the nonsense though the UC is still an incredible example of state education at work. The solution isn't more austerity, but increasing investment in what is known to provide jobs and give the US a leading edge in areas such as R&D. There's also more to it than a narrow focus on STEM fields. Academics across all the disciplines contribute to the US's position as a global leader in education. That's one thing that even China with all its massive growth still can't touch, and it's something we need to maintain for future generations. Across the pond University College of London is another great example of public uni education.

[The Comrade]

[eric]

[eynon81]