Hoosier,

Those tests NEVER made sense to me. I did not understand the questions being asked of me, especially the verbal analogies...

When I took a SAT prep course and the tutor reviewed a verbal analogy of moot and toot and how they were similar, I'm sorry, that just is plain idiotic to me.

Standardize tests do not measure one's ability to complete the task at hand. Yes, it is used as a tool to demonstrate one's knowledge and a key to open that door into broader avenues, but it does not, in the long run actually get a person to where they need to go and how they need to get there...

I currently work with another veterinarian who is a caucasian woman that also did poorly on the GRE and the MCAT for vets. She was accepted into vet school based on her interview and had to make some classes up in the process. After her graduation she worked in a vet clinic that gave her "real world" experience. Then she decided to pursue a certified pathology diplomate from the ACVMP... BIG TIME in our field... There are 4 sections to the test and everyone MUST pass it--it's like the California State Bar... Anyhoo, she studies her AZZZZZ off to get this stuff... And I hope she passes it with flying colors. There are others around her that are rooting her on, hoping she succeeds. But this test is not a standardized test, this test is an ASS kickin' test--sink or swim test... There are no tricks to learn, no bubbles with a number 2 pencil, one must learn the stuff, WELL!!!

I say all of this to say that yes, standardized testing is only as good as the knowledge we want folks to know--i.e. what the government says that everyone should know... The above and beyond that individuals who want to know more has to be cultivated--mainly through supportive environments... However when supportive environments are lacking, how can we expect that the standardize testing could be used as a back up?

Another item is if we only teach children to pass tests based on the government's concept of learning, then what will we be capable of dreaming for the future? I doubt our current governent wants us to even grasp our future as our own... But that's my opinion.

That like the 4 blind doctors trying to describe an elephant by its different parts...

OMG, guys! I actually agree with Rudey here!

Vouchers won't solve problems. They just move it around.

Some of that is your district itself, PM Mama. I'm pretty sure I know which one you stayed at (Pirates?)and the district saw vouchers as the opportunity to gobble up students and therefore more money without screening who they allowed to use them. Students who've been expelled or suspended shouldn't be allowed to barge in other public schools. They need home schooling or something. They have also flocked to a charter school in the area (Summit) which was to have been an extraordinary school when they opened. It's now filled with kids who were kicked out of other schools. So, even with "School of Choice" vouchers, the school district should pick and choose who they will take or they end up with a lot of problem children.

It's still a downside of voucher systems (which I don't agree with either)

The downside is everyone is entitled to an education. If these kids have problems from the get-go and have no appreciation for education then you can't just say they no what they are doing.

And that's just on their level. Education impacts everyone. It impacts everything from voting for a representative (look on Greekchat at how many stupid people make stupid remarks at election time) to how they perform at work to how their health measures up.

-Rudey

OMG STFU!

-Rudey

I know you don't want me to say anything, but I don't see Hoosier commenting on every single black person out there...

-Rudey

I think the problem would be that the enviroment becomes toxic at school AAA - and those students trapped at it because of either economic, social, or familial reasons would continue to perpetuate the substandard education.

Enviroment is substantial in the forming of a persons perception of education - kids exposed to an enivroment where education or "book smarts" is mocked or looked-down on have little to now motivation to pursue education; the opposite is true as well: where education is lauded a greater number of kids will pursue higher education.

The problem with your system is that it doesn't adequately provide for those that want to break out of the system/cycle of poor education limiting their future... and in effect condemns them.

Sweetheart, I generally know your thoughts on various subjects... So when I want you to weigh in on a topic that is being discussed, I attempt to make an "open" statement on the topic...

However, if you actually DO have a comment about my response to Hoosier, I would love to hear it, because I do value your insight...

However, some of the comments Hoosier made are hurtful and misguided. In my opinion he has an inaccurate perception of people with gross generalizations that needs to be rooted out or at least have a concept of why he says what he says and where he is coming from...

The fact is Hoosier's life experiences have limited him to what several folks see on television rather than how many folks live day by day...

I wish I knew why there is a disparity on scholastic performance by underrepresented people of color on standardized tests. All I know is I came in stealthly, under the radar before the rules changed and was afforded an opportunity, which I took--I also worked extremely hard to get to where I needed to go... Giving up was not an option for me, in my mind...

However, I can speak for only African American children, that my mentality was and still is extremely rare and many give up and fall on the wayside... And I wish we had the actual whole numbers to say that it is alright, but proportionally and percentage-wise, we do not.

Should something new be done by the government? I do not know? What more can be done by the government?

If we solve that problem, we solve many other problems in inter-ethnic/cultural relations...

I was just speaking to this thread and about if he generalized to all blacks or not. That's all. You are all free to continue and all that. Sorry for the interruption :)

-Rudey

Thanks for the bat signal. :p

Many people take one bit of information, misconstrue it, and run with it. Many GCers have not done extensive reading and research but always manage to have an "opinion." This is the context in which GC usually operates so reading and partaking in dialogue is "at your own risk."

I challenge everyone in this thread to be open to what others are typing. Generalizations are not a bad thing when they are based on well-researched trends and patterns AS OPPOSED TO poor assumptions and negative stereotypes used to fuel a supremacist agenda.

The readers should attempt to be objective enough to receive these generalizations without thinking the author is trying to account for EVERY person in that (race or social class) group. The authors are also charged with a level of objectivity and the need to convey a message without sensationalizing the issue and demeaning the subject-group in order to prove a point. Of course, there will still be people who don't know what the hell they're typing about. :p

brains are sexy.

:o