I just read this article on The Washington Post about the testing of English Language Learners in Virginia’s schools.
The article had this headline:
Fairfax Schools Concede On Testing
Compromise Made On Limited English
Sometimes David does not bring down Goliath.
I still respect the educators of Fairfax, Arlington, Harrisonburg etc. for trying to fight the US Department of Education. The well written article by Maria Glod, acknowledges the bitter taste in educators mouths but, the headline and sub-head seems give a different impression than the truth presented in the article.
Here is my favorite quote,
“The school system said in a statement that the decision was made after “efforts . . . to advocate on behalf of providing appropriate and necessary instruction and testing for students were rejected by the U.S. Department of Education.”
Since I am married to a great writer, who also happened to be a newspaper reporter in a past life, I know that Headlines and sub-heads are written by Editors and copy editors, not the author. In the top of the article Fairfax CONCEDES then it COMPROMISES then it BACKS DOWN, then it does a SHARP TURN-AROUND. So, I ask you
What would have been your headline?
How about: David Beaten by Goliath, US ED