Countering the Critics: Responses to Recent Criticisms of School Effectiveness Research

Abstract

Criticisms of school effectiveness research (SER) from recent books are addressed. Fourteen criticisms are presented, followed by counterpoints, including: (1) many criticisms are based on simplistic/skewed readings of SER; (2) there is a wide diversity in SER; no single viewpoint prevails, as implied by critics; (3) many SER researchers have reported the direct/indirect impact of social class on student achievement, instead of ignoring it as implied by critics; (4) SER researchers believe schools have an impact beyond that of social class, and educators should influence what they can in their schools/classrooms; critics pessimistically focus on the social class/student achievement relationship; (5) pragmatism is a valid paradigm for studying schools; indeed, it has advantages over “critical” theory employed by other commentators. Resolution of these issues is unlikely given differences in commentators' world views.