posted on February 16, 2001 11:43:46 PM
They just ran a short segment on the NBC news about a proposal put forth (didn't catch by whom--listening to news while on computer ) that SATs no longer be used as entrance requirements for college. Seems that students who fail to do well on the SATs "have their sel-esteem hurt."
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!! Students fail to do well, so the answer is to get rid of the test?!? Whatever happened to <gasp> studying...actually <be still my heart> learning what is needed to pass the test? I suppose that is much too radical an idea.
It is no wonder that the U.S. has such a poor record education-wise in comparison with the rest of the world. We dumb down our textbooks. We get rid of grades. We do our best to get rid of homework. We discourage the idea of hard work & striving to do the best possible. All in the name of "self-esteem." I am getting sick of it.
posted on February 17, 2001 12:10:31 AM
I took my kids out of public school 6 years ago when they changed the letter grades from A-F to this "assessment scale" (with these legends):
6=exceptional (enthusiastic,confident)
5=strong (self-motivated, confident)
4=competent (capable, has some command)
3=developing (occasionally understands)
2=limited (seldom motivated to attempt)
1=emerging (not motivated to attempt)
Of course, everyone in their minds still changed a "6" to an "A" and so on. The kids weren't stupid-they saw right through it. I just couldn't stand the artificial attempt at self-esteem.
posted on February 17, 2001 08:20:47 AM
The one that killed me was the radio talk show host who was speaking to a rep from the company responsible for the SAT tests. The rep said SAT test score averages have been going up. The rep never bother to mention that they have been making the test easier and easier for the past 20 or more years. DUH, no wonder the score averages have been going up.
posted on February 17, 2001 08:31:52 AM
We need to go back to the days when children were in classes which matched their abilities! My children were in classes with children who were retarded and had extreme behavioral problems and were constantly distracted by a child who picked his nose and wiped it on their homework papers, another who tore off erasures from pencils and put them up his nose until he couldn't breathe, another who let out screams occassionally and ran around the room with his arms extended hitting all those near him. The "normal" children were told to ignore these behaviors and go about their work! Like to see her do it at their age. Not to mention the "hurt esteem" of the child acting out when his actions were met with "normal" reactions of disgust and anger. Let those children who have special needs be in a classroom with special needs children and earn the privilege of "graduating" to a normal classroom when his behavior allows it.
) that SATs no longer be used as entrance requirements for college. Seems that students who fail to do well on the SATs "have their sel-esteem hurt."