We’ve been thinking about Richard Rothstein’s commentary published two weeks ago in EdWeek. We’re particularly happy that Rothstein restated our concerns about the sampling in the 2008 NAEP arts assessment and that Rothstein believes, as we do, that an education that leaves out the full range of liberal arts and sciences simply isn’t an adequate education.
What struck us most, though, are the statements Rothstein unearthed from then-candidate Obama about schools narrowing their curriculum to boost student scores on standardized tests. Rothstein quotes Obama lamenting the plight of today’s students: “All they can do is just study math and reading every day, all day long. They’ve eliminated recess, they’ve eliminated art and music.” He goes on: “So part of the solution is changing No Child Left Behind, so that the assessment is one that takes into account all the factors that go into a good education.”
Clearly candidate Obama believed that detrimental curriculum narrowing had already taken place and should be addressed. But does President Obama? Not according to the priorities and policies of his Department of Education. We’ve not heard a word of concern about curriculum narrowing from Arne. And the only mention of curriculum at all in the proposed Race to the Top Guidelines is STEM (it is listed as a competitive priority). But students need more than STEM and reading. Candidate Obama knew that. Maybe President Obama should review some of his stump speeches and share them with Arne.
James Elias and Lynne Munson