
The VAM Moose and his motto will be featured in public
service announcements, billboards and internet pop-ups promoting value added
assessment of teacher performance. Asked about the long series of reports from
respected organizations like ETS, the Educational Policy Institute and the Rand
Corporation calling into question the use of VAMs for any high stakes
decisions, Mr. Numbers said, “That’s why we need the moose. We need to turn
around the conversation and facts won’t help us. Nothing like a soft and cuddly
mascot to sell a flawed product. Look what Tony the Tiger did for Frosted
Flakes.”
In a related story, Walmart has announced it is launching a
line of stuffed talking VAM Moose dolls to go on sale in time for the Christmas
season. The cute and cuddly item, manufactured in Guatemala, will have a pull
string that when activated has the moose say, “No excuses! No excuses!”
* For the uninitiated, VAMs are statistical models that use
student scores on standardized tests to mis-measure teacher effectiveness. They
have been very popular with education reformy types. For a fuller, and more
sober analysis of this flawed tool please see the following.
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