Editorial: Revise and Resubmit: It's Not a Consolation Prize!

As the editor of Mathematics Teacher Educator, I make decisions about whether to accept, reject, or ask for a revision of a manuscript based on the extent to which the manuscript addresses the review criteria that have been specified (see http://www.nctm.org/publications/content.aspx?id=34670). This requires a careful reading of the manuscript itself as well as the feedback from three reviewers (one of whom is a member of the Editorial Panel). The reviews provide me with additional information and insight on which to draw in making a decision. The reviews are not “averaged” in any way (e.g., one Accept, one Revise and Resubmit, and one Reject do not yield a Revise and Resubmit), nor does the majority rule (e.g., two Accepts and one Revise and Resubmit do not result in an Accept). It is important to look beyond the particular category a reviewer chooses to what the reviewer actually identifies as the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript. Many times the reviewer might indicate Revise and Resubmit when in fact the review provided is more consistent with Reject (e.g., many essential elements are missing). Hence, the reviews help inform, but do not dictate, the editor's decision.