How do you know your measuring device really exists?
How can I know a calculus test exists? Very easily. I look at it, feel it, etc. How can I know calculus ability exists? Again, very easily - it predicts outcomes on a set of correlated exams, the existence of which I verify with sight, touch, etc.
You seem to want to argue that education only produces vague, immaterial and unmeasurable outcomes. Lets take that as a given - in that case, why not just eliminate education spending and save $900B/year?
Outcomes not being well defined != unnecessary or worth getting rid of.
You seem to confuse physical existence and idea. Presumably a physical object can be painted but ideas can't. Lot's of things exist that can't be verified by sight, touch, etc. In my opinion being a good teacher is not something that can be reasonably measured. I'm open to the possibility that I'm wrong but have seen no evidence that I am.
How can I know a calculus test exists? Very easily. I look at it, feel it, etc. How can I know calculus ability exists? Again, very easily - it predicts outcomes on a set of correlated exams, the existence of which I verify with sight, touch, etc.
You seem to want to argue that education only produces vague, immaterial and unmeasurable outcomes. Lets take that as a given - in that case, why not just eliminate education spending and save $900B/year?