(Guest Post by Matthew Ladner)
Malcolm Gladwell weighs in on teacher quality, certification and value-added analysis in a must read article drawing attention to the similarities between teaching and the NFL draft.
Now, lots of people like to bust on the San Diego Chargers for drafting Ryan Leaf with the second overall pick in 1998 (one pick behind the great Peyton Manning btw).
Personally, I think the Bengals taking Akili Smith with a similar high pick the next year represents an even more tremendous screw up, and the Bengals turned down the Ricky Williams deal from the Saints to draft a guy who threw 5 touchdowns and 13 picks before getting cut. Instead, the could have had the Saints entire 1999 draft and a couple of high 2000 picks just to move down a few spots.
But I digress. Gladwell’s point is an excellent one: no one can figure out which college QB will translate into the pros, and no one can seem to figure out who will make an excellent teacher. Get them in the classroom and figure it out, but don’t give Akili Smith tenure.
Posted by matthewladner 
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