tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post112779226369796796..comments2023-10-10T03:39:50.342-05:00Comments on A Little Urbanity: I Wuz Fooled by the New York Times: Statistical ShenanigansUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127913406654244772005-09-28T08:16:00.000-05:002005-09-28T08:16:00.000-05:00Looking at the charts, it appears that the tests w...Looking at the charts, it appears that the tests were 'reset' in 94-95 and 00-01, those are the years with the biggest bumps in test scores (and relatively flat in between).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127853201363841362005-09-27T15:33:00.000-05:002005-09-27T15:33:00.000-05:00Instead of forcing teachers to teach so kids can d...Instead of forcing teachers to teach so kids can do ok on those STUPID TESTS, I would recommend a portfolio type system. Students keep a portfolio of all their work throughout high school. I think that would be a much more accurate reflection as to what the kids are learning and know. It also gives a better idea of how well they can perform.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127850747811103262005-09-27T14:52:00.001-05:002005-09-27T14:52:00.001-05:00This is anecdotal, but I believe any of the teache...This is anecdotal, but I believe any of the teachers I know in North Carolina could tell you what they think is going on.<BR/><BR/>According to a high school teacher friend of mine in Greensboro the school system is forcing teachers to cut anything that doesn't teach directly to these standardized tests and, when their test scores aren't high enough, people are brought in to monitor the teachers to be sure they aren't deviating from the "all test all the time" approach.<BR/><BR/>This has forced my friend, an English teacher, to cut a good deal of the reading she thinks her students need and almost all of the classroom discussion of literature except as it pertains to standardized testing and how they'll need to answer. The result, she says, is that they generally know how they should answer questions on a test and have been taught what to look for but their actual analytical skills are nearly non-existent and it's impossible to have an actual conversation with them about anything they've read.<BR/><BR/>I know exactly four people who graduated with degrees in teaching in the last four years and, after their experience teaching in NC schools, all but one of them have opted to either move to other states or quit teaching altogether.Joe Killianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10446549368129008834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127850743558177022005-09-27T14:52:00.000-05:002005-09-27T14:52:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Joe Killianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10446549368129008834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127825732803775862005-09-27T07:55:00.000-05:002005-09-27T07:55:00.000-05:00I absolutly hate standardized tests. So much, in ...I absolutly hate standardized tests. So much, in fact, that I refused to take the SAT's when I was in high school. I think that they prove nothing, except how well you perform on a particular day. Many of my friends spent HOURS in classes just to prepare for the SAT's. They stressed out about them for months and thought they had to do well or they wouldn't be able to go to college. They thought I was nuts for refusing. Well, they all took the test, and yes, they all went to college. I did not take the test. Guess what? I have a diploma on my shelf indicating that I have a Bachelor of Arts degree. Where is the degree from? Syracuse University. So, I am proof that you DO NOT need to take those stupid tests to do well! ARGH!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127821193055850052005-09-27T06:39:00.000-05:002005-09-27T06:39:00.000-05:00Why do I keep letting The New York Times sucker me...Why do I keep letting The New York Times sucker me? There's all this evidence against them everyday of their biases and prejudices, yet I can't help it. I get pulled in. I'm like this happy fly buzzing around in the morning and the spider beckons, "Hey, drop in for coffee, little fly." "I'll be right there," I say, "I'd like mine with cream."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159479.post-1127793713064696082005-09-26T23:01:00.000-05:002005-09-26T23:01:00.000-05:00I wonder if this is similar to back in 1994-1995, ...I wonder if this is similar to back in 1994-1995, when it was found that American high school students do poorly on the SATs, so they artificially bumped the scores. So the fact that your child scores 1350 on his/her SATs these days have that artificial bump in it. Sad, but true.Darkmoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00511517187037058883noreply@blogger.com