Normalcy Not Nostrums

In her July 18th post, " Editorial 2: Redistricting is a national issue (blog stage 7) ", the author of "A Real Nation" argues that congressional redistricting should not be decided by the state but rather by independent firms whose bids are then voted on. While I agree that redistricting should not be in the hands of elected officials, I am not sure that her proposed plan to center around the state capital and work around in a spiral would be best for residents. Often, the state capital is not the most populous nor the most central city, and very populous cities in far-flung regions are likely to be bisected unfairly. While the author may believe that incidental disenfranchisement is preferable to calculated gerrymandering, I think her plan for redistricting is not the most effective.

The use of statewide standardized testing to determine funding allocation and alleged student proficiency creates disincentives for teachers wishing to develop unique and engaging learning experiences. In order to encourage individually tailored curricula without compromising the establishment of a minimum proficiency, emphasis should be shifted away from precise and unforgiving test scores, toward a method that takes the personal growth of students into account, such as a portfolio-based system. By collecting and comparing a student's work over the course of the year, teachers can determine whether the student has learned or improved enough to continue their coursework. Random samples of each teacher's pupils reviewed by state education officials would indicate comprehensive instruction or lack thereof; if students of a particular teacher consistently fail to show improvement, the teacher is placed under closer scrutiny. More funding can be allocated to schools with high rates...