U-S Labor Secretary Elaine Chao came to Iowa this week and talked about employment rates, workforce centers, and education. Saying quality education is the best way to ensure a qualified workforce, Chao put in a plug for standardized testing. Iowa politicians have resisted a single, standard test for students, however Chao says it’s not punishment, but a diagnostic tool to measure what teachers are teaching and students are learning, and Chao says that will assure educational standards are met. The Labor Secretary says there’s little credence any more for claims that American schools treat girls unfairly. Rather than teachers discriminating against girls, she says if anything there’s a concern now that the reaction has left the needs of boys unmet.
