MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'education policy'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:20:48 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169561&cid=t_123828_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2011%2F08%2Fthe-challenge-of-obesity.html For those interested in epidemiology, chronic disease, and obesity. This week's edition of the Lancet has a series of four articles and several commentaries that review the economics, epidemiology, social, and policymaking issues affecting obesity that are well worth reading in full. The take away message is that this is an extremely complicated area. There is an emphasis by the authors and commentators that correction of obesity will take government action. Government action in this area tends to resolve around police actions, and taxation. Taxation policies have worked to a significant extent in reducing tobacco consumption in Europe. However, smoking is not a survival necessity whereas eating is. We have to be very careful about the use of police power for public health policy with the ... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169561 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:05:04 +0100 5169561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096166&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FUTcau62NImA%2F By Adam SchaefferAs Neal wrote about earlier, Education Next has released their new poll, and there are some interesting results. Surprisingly, the authors buried the lede in their writeup; education tax credits consistently have more support and less opposition than any other choice policy. This year, donation tax credits pulled in a 29-point margin of support (that’s total favor minus total oppose). In contrast, charter schools had a 25-point margin of support. The authors added a new, less neutral voucher question that boosted the margin of support to 20 points. They couched the policy in terms of “wider choice” for kids in public schools, and the implication was that it was universal. All three of these additional considerations tend to have a positive impact on support for choic... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096166 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:41:42 +0100 5096166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008144&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoQ9BxcwOTyk%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonEducation writer RiShawn Biddle has offered a spirited response to my blog post yesterday about the failure of the No Child Left Behind act. In it, he asserts that NCLB has advanced school choice, and links to an earlier essay that ostensibly presented his case. Summarizing it, Biddle writes that: The impact of No Child on advancing choice… starts with the law’s Adequate Yearly Progress requirements. Thanks to the data culled, the low quality of education in traditional district schools was exposed for all to see, providing parents and school choice activists with the information they needed  to push for the advancement of choice. No thanks. The poor performance of U.S. schooling has been evident to a great many people for a very long time. The bestseller Why Johnn... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008144 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:51:49 +0100 5008144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934106&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwEhLmNGEDUE%2F By Neal McCluskeyThere’s a lot of consternation over Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s threat that if Congress doesn’t quickly create and pass a new No Child Left Behind Act he will do it himself, issuing waivers galore for states that adopt as-yet unspecified, administration-dictated reforms. As Andy Rotherham writes in Time, everyone from AEI’s Rick Hess, to angry-teachers’ hero Diane Ravitch, seems to be outraged over the notion that the executive branch would simply bypass Congress because it thinks the legislators are moving too slowly. What did they expect when they ignored the Constitution to begin with, forgetting that it gives Washington just a few, enumerated powers, and that meddling in education (save prohibiting discrimination and c... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934106 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:24:19 +0100 4934106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433085&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-pqvAQOcqVQ%2F By Neal McCluskeyIt didn't get a lot of attention, but in last week's State of the Union address President Obama celebrated the spread of national curriculum standards that's been fueled largely by the federal Race to the Top. Of course, he didn't actually call them "national standards" because no one is supposed to think that these are de facto federal standards that states have been bribed into adopting. The point, though, was clear to those in the know: Race to the Top is the most meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation. For less than one percent of what we spend on education each year, it has led over 40 states to raise their standards for teaching and learning. These standards were developed, not by Washington, but by Republican and Democratic governors throughout ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433085 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:44:01 +0100 4433085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377560&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FLfO1S2DmAi4%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonU. of Ark. political scientist and education scholar Jay Greene has been blogging about the proper role of science in education policy, and his thoughts (continued here) are well worth reading. In particular, he warns that trying to scientifically find “the one best way” of evaluating teachers or of teaching reading and then attempting to impose that putatively best solution on all children is ultimately misguided and destructive. I’d add that it is also unscientific. Science is humble. You have to be willing to rethink and potentially discard theories that repeatedly fail to coincide with reality. Well, the theory that governments can operate effective, efficient, innovative education systems from the top down was never supported by the evidence i... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377560 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:47:49 +0100 4377560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214085&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRQM4RfbwuLk%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonWriting in yesterday’s WSJ, education historian Diane Ravitch laments that Republicans have abandoned their earlier defense of federalism and limited government in education, embracing vast and expanding powers for Washington over the nation’s schools. In particular, she faults the No Child Left Behind act for demanding public school improvements that have not been forthcoming and for imposing “corrective” measures that will not correct the problem. Though I depart from Ravitch on most education policy matters — and not just on conclusions but also methodology — she is right in both of the above observations. Over the past decade, many Republicans have championed new federal powers in education that have no basis in the U.S. Constitut... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214085 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:07:24 +0100 4214085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999012&cid=t_123828_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F09%2Ftraining-in-basic-sciences-necessity-or-preference.html From today’s issue of Science look at the editorial on the need for basic sciences in training of physicians ”there is an even more compelling reason to make basic science education essential for all physicians: stimulating curiosity and creating the scientific habits of mind that are essential for continual learning. Basic science research is a portal to the next generation of medical care".. A similar question is appropriate regarding a science base for training in public health, which basic sciences, how much? (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG) Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999012 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:13:11 +0100 3999012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907585&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMKS0ao40eJQ%2F By Adam SchaefferThe new PDK/Gallup education poll for 2010 is out, with the standard problems we can expect from this pro-government school/anti-choice outfit. Randi Weingarten even gets some column space! Oh Randi, you proud yet humble teacher. The “Commentary” sidebars in general were cringe-inducingly hackish and treacly. It is interesting that there was a big spike in the percentage of people saying the biggest problem schools must deal with is a lack of funds. They’ve done a great job convincing folks there’s no money. Of course, the way the question is worded, it encourages respondents to think about the difficulties schools are facing, which despite their flush accounts probably is dealing with funding issues. I’d like to see the answers to “What do you thin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907585 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:38:50 +0100 3907585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3902917&cid=t_123828_99_f&fid=35342&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.vcu.edu%2Fcbuttery%2F2010%2F08%2Fpoll-finds-majority-concerned-over-drug-companies-influence-on-physicians.html Today a number of newspapers discuss a "telephone survey of more than 2,000 US adults by Consumer Reports which found that the majority of those currently taking medications -- 69% -- had" concerns "that pharmaceutical companies have too much influence over their physicians' prescribing practices." While the report focuses on drug companies financial influence on physicians there's absolutely no discussion on the adverse influence of all the TV ads on use this or that drug and ask your Dr. about it.  Many physicians find it difficult to explain to patients that just because there's an ad on TV it may not be the appropriate drug for you. I believe this has much more influence on physician choices than anything the pharmaceutical company sends the Dr. as a "gift" and is far more harmful... Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3902917 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:17:49 +0100 3902917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3757854&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fu_La3ZVDX8g%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonRick Hess has written recently about education policy in the republic of Georgia, describing it as “guaranteed to bring smiles to my friends at the Cato Institute.” Hess characterizes it as a “market-driven system,” and “a seemingly elegant market design,” that has been undermined by a lack of autonomy for schools, “incoherent governance,” and “the reluctance of state officials to keep their hands off the schools.” Can’t say that this description has me cracking open the bubbly. To the problems Hess has already identified, we could add the fact that there is a national curriculum that even the nation’s voucherized schools must apparently use as the basis for their plan of instruction. The secon... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3757854 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:34:36 +0100 3757854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577389&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyC8SNr6u_6M%2F By Neal McCluskeyThere’s a lot to learn about what’s going on in federal education policy today, and none of it is good. First, Steven Brill offers a revealing look at the Race to the Top evaluation process in a piece that can be added to the ever-growing pile of evidence that Race to the Top isn’t even close to the objective — or, I’d add, powerful — catalyst for meaningful reform that the Obama administration insists it is. Second, it appears that congressional Democrats are preparing to pass a Harkin-proposed, Obama-endorsed, $23 billion bailout for teachers by attaching it to an “emergency” appropriation for the war in Afghanistan. (Passing major — and highly suspect – education legislation by attaching it to something to... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577389 Tue, 18 May 2010 17:39:02 +0100 3577389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471769&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FDcomf50q7K0%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonTo the extent education policy commentary actually affects policy, it has the potential to do great good or great harm. Several recent commentaries in this field fall into the latter camp, and it’s important to understand why — so that we can avoid similar mistakes in future. The one I’ll discuss here is this blog post by Matthew Yglesias, in which he draws broad conclusions about the functioning of education markets from a recent study of a tiny school choice program in Milwaukee as well as from some older unspecified research [for the latter, Yglesias linked here, but the body of that page doesn't discuss school choice]. The Milwaukee study is part of a vast literature. Over the past quarter century at least sixty-five studies have compared outcomes... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471769 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:43:27 +0100 3471769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275776&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FqSjM27wf6YY%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonJay Greene has responded to my review of the new Brookings Institution school choice report which he co-authored, raising a crucial issue for the education policy and research communities. Jay points out that the report is a work of realpolitik rather than scholarship, and as such contends that it must find a compromise between the policies best supported by the evidence and those that have a real chance of being implemented. He makes the related argument that incrementalism is the only realistic path to success. I agree with Jay that it’s good for analysts to find ways of improving current policy even when the ideal policies are not politically feasible. But these realpolitik recommendations must be clearly distinguished from the ideal policies themselves. ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275776 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:38:46 +0100 3275776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3254634&cid=t_123828_133_f&fid=35090&url=http%3A%2F%2Faspiehomeeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Felective-home-education-day-conference.html This day conference seeks to develop critical discussion on all three aspects (EHE, policy, and the academic debate). In particular, we seek to review ‘suitable’ and ‘efficient’ as educationally significant (see Section 7, Education Act 1996), which the Badman Report largely side-stepped.The conference, stimulated by a number of papers and responses, will seek to explore the legitimacy of this conceptual framework for EHE, and possible conceptualisations which offer a practical way forward for parents and policy makers in a UK context.Event details here. (Source: Aspie Home-Education) Aspie Home-Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3254634 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:26:00 +0100 3254634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193703&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F5ZuJPT709tA%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonThe Brookings Institution will release a new school choice policy guide on February 2nd, and from the sound of it, children, parents, taxpayers, and the authors themselves should be concerned.  The guide will provide: a series of practical and novel recommendations for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including national chartering of virtual education providers; expanding the types of information collected on school performance; providing incentives for low-performing school districts to increase choice and competition; and creating independent school choice portals to aid parents in choosing between schools. The goals these recommendations are meant to achieve are entirely laudable, but there are three reasons for serious concern: 1)  ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193703 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:08:47 +0100 3193703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999499&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_s5-A4iBV4Y%2F My last post focused on the general results of a school choice poll in Virginia. Contra conventional wisdom, education tax credits are significantly more popular and less opposed than are charter schools. Even more interesting is the stability of support for donation tax credits across party identification. A stunning 64 percent of Democrats support credits, with only 21 percent opposed. Independents support credits 65 percent to 22 percent. Charters are supposed to be the poster child for policies targeting Independent voters. And yet charters draw 59 percent of support from independents and 23 percent opposition. That’s a swing from a 43 percent margin of support for credits to a 36 percent margin for charters. And vouchers run even further behind with a 22 percent margin of support f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999499 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:25:55 +0100 2999499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999500&cid=t_123828_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FaatxNmHFf1s%2F Pop Quiz: What’s the best education policy a moderate politician in Virginia can pursue? Vouchers Charter Schools Education Tax Credits Conventional wisdom says go with charter schools, because they are a bipartisan, moderate compromise reform that will get you the largest number of Independents and the least opposition. Vouchers are too hot to touch. And what’s an education tax credit . . . oh, right, they’re too controversial as well Conventional wisdom is WRONG. The Friedman Foundation has released another in their invaluable series of state education polls, this time for once-purple Virginia. Their findings are consistent with other polls, and the pattern is worth highlighting. Charter schools draw 59 percent in support and 26 percent in opposition. Vouchers find 57 percen... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999500 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:04:52 +0100 2999500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349068&cid=t_123828_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FfG7V3iNsAJQ%2F At a time when educators are preoccupied with standards, testing, and the bottom line, some researchers suggest the arts can boost students' test scores; others aren't convinced. Karin Evans asks, What are the arts good for? --- When poet and national endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia gave the 2007 Commencement Address at Stanford University, he used the occasion to deliver an impassioned argument for the value of the arts and arts education. "Art is an irreplaceable way of understanding and expressing the world," said Gioia. "There are some truths about life that can be expressed only as stories, or songs, or images. Art delights, instructs, consoles. It educates our emotions." For years, arts advocates like Gioia have been making similar pleas, stressing the ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349068 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:12:58 +0100 2349068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1243621&cid=t_123828_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F237826984%2F Dear Mr or Mrs Next US President, Thank you for stopping during recess for a quick study session. 35 educators have collaborated to present this Carnival of Education as a useful lesson plan for you and your education policy team on what our real concerns and suggestions are. In case this is your first visit to our SharpBrains blog, let me first of all point out some useful resources to stay sane during the rest of the campaign: selected Brain Teasers, a list of 21 great Brain Books, over a dozen interviews with leading scientists on learning and brain-based topics, and more. Without further ado, let's proceed to the issues raised. We hope they provide, at the very least, good mental stimulation for you and your advisors. Education as a System 1. How can the blogosphere raise the le... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1243621 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:58:59 +0100 1243621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=721506&cid=t_123828_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fedwards-on-s-policy-education.html Bora just posted an exclusive interview w/ presidential candidate John Edwards on scientific topics ranging from climate change, NASA, healthcare, sustained American competitiveness in S&T, the role of the Office of Science & Technology Policy, and science education.On the role of scientific advisors and the Office of S&T Policy, Edwards responded:The Office of Science and Technology Policy will play a central role when I'm president. We need to encourage science, and do it honestly and openly. It's unfortunate the Bush administration hasn't shared that view. The censorship and suppression of science on climate change, on air pollution, on stem cell research--all to advance a political agenda--is wrong. Policy should be science driven; science shouldn't be politics driven. And later:As pre... The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=721506 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:52:00 +0100 721506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682839&cid=t_123828_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhat-long-strange-journey.html Dear George Soros;Yesterday was a strange journey in linkhopping, which I'm going to try and reproduce from my history, as recording it got interrupted by Life. Checking The Daily Kos (while looking for Cindy Sheehan's Farewell) pointed me at strange events at Free Republic, and checking references to that led me to this Myspace Blog which quoted a statement on Patriotism by Ron Paul. I reproduce it full in a separate post, as it needs to be easily found and widely read.And THAT led me to write this scrolling monstrosity. More below the fold. You see, I'm getting to like Ron Paul as a candidate, and I think you might want to lay a few discreet bets on him. Even though I call myself "libertarian," I've never voted for Ron Paul, or indeed, very many Libertarians, inasmuch as most seem to be ... Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682839 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=658908&cid=t_123828_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fwhat-long-strange-journey.html Dear George Soros;Yesterday was a strange journey in linkhopping, which I'm going to try and reproduce from my history, as recording it got interrupted by Life. Checking The Daily Kos (while looking for Cindy Sheehan's Farewell) pointed me at strange events at Free Republic, and checking references to that led me to this Myspace Blog which quoted a statement on Patriotism by Ron Paul. I reproduce it full in a separate post, as it needs to be easily found and widely read.And THAT led me to write this scrolling monstrosity.You see, I'm getting to like Ron Paul as a candidate, and I think you might want to lay a few discreet bets on him. Even though I call myself "libertarian," I've never voted for Ron Paul, or indeed, very many Libertarians, inasmuch as most seem to be as doctrinally inflexi... Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=658908 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 658908