Comment on Welcome to Less Wrong! (9th thread, May 2016)

Tue, 24 May 2016 12:21:06 GMT

politicians -- can keep "reforming" the system every year and impress voters

I think you have a bad model of politicians if you model them primarily as wanting to impress voters.

On of the reasons for centralized testing is for example that it amkes it easier for employees to evaluate the applicants from different schools. As a result they lobby for standardized testing and get it.

Teachers unions are politically strong.

Politicians are generally concerned about unemployement and want the education system to teach skills that allow students to take jobs. In the UK the lately also call about some thing they call happiness.

parents -- free babysitting until the child is 18 (depends on the country)

Parents also care substantially about their children getting into a good college.

Discuss