Grading the teacher’s teachers

Poor study habits, too much TV or goofing off are usually cited as reasons students get bad grades. But the state of Texas has a different idea for why some students are underperforming ? poor teaching ? and state officials came up with a plan to look into it. Under a proposed new rating system, Texas schools that train teachers will be held accountable for their graduates’ effectiveness on the jobs. That means bad grades may point to a bad teacher’s teacher and not the student’s bad habits.

We talk to education reporter Ericka Mellon, who reported on the program for The Houston Chronicle, and Dan Ariely, professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University.