The "fallacy" of standardized testing [discussion]

[Taualumna]

Dekeguy,

I guess the Canadian school systems are somewhere in between a UK/European systems and the American system. Education here is controlled by the provincial government. The government sets out standards that all schools must teach, how many courses students must take to complete their diploma, and whether there are exit exams for graduation (Ontario currently does not have a set of exams one must pass in Grade 12 in order to graduate). We do have a literacy test that Grade 10s must pass (see my earlier post for results of some Toronto area schools). If one doesn't pass it (and many who aren't in the academic stream do not), one can either take it again, or take an equivilancy course. Private high schools must follow the curriculum to be accredited, and are inspected regularly to make sure that things are done properly. Grades are done in percentages, with a pass being 50% and the provincial "standard" of a good mark being 70% (I don't think there are any universities that will take anyone below 70). However, different schools may see 70% differently. A 70% essay at a strongly academic high school (e.g. North Toronto Collegiate Institute or a private university prep school), where (almost) all students pass the literacy test is probably better written than a 70% essay at a school where few students pass.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by Taualumna
...My theory is this: Schools called "Collegiate Institutes" are historically more academically focused, with most students intending to enter university. Schools called "secondary schools" are mostly general high schools, and are actually "newer" (I can only think of two high schools in the old city of Toronto that are "secondary schools"...Northern and Rosedale Heights.) Students used to be streamed to different divisions, with collegiates preparing students for university matriculation and other schools for the work force. While non-collegiates are required to offer university prep courses today, collegiates offer few work force prep programs.

Do you think there might be some bias when these results are calculated...I know it might sound a little out there, but do you think some of the results could be skewed in favour of some of the Collegiate Institutes?

I know the universities track the highschools and certain grades might be overlooked depending on where you go to highschool.

Now, I'm not saying that these students aren't smart and haven't worked hard and legitimatly know their material. But I'm just wondering. Maybe not so much with the provincial testing, but in other things

Just a though.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Do you think there might be some bias when these results are calculated...I know it might sound a little out there, but do you think some of the results could be skewed in favour of some of the Collegiate Institutes?

I know the universities track the highschools and certain grades might be overlooked depending on where you go to highschool.

Now, I'm not saying that these students aren't smart and haven't worked hard and legitimatly know their material. But I'm just wondering. Maybe not so much with the provincial testing, but in other things

Just a though.

I don't think the Grade 10 literacy exam favours certain high schools necessarily, but rather, favours those in the academic stream. Grade 10s write the same exam province-wide, while there are two separate exams for Grade 9 math (one for those taking applied and another for those in the academic stream).

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by Taualumna
I don't think the Grade 10 literacy exam favours certain high schools necessarily, but rather, favours those in the academic stream. Grade 10s write the same exam province-wide, while there are two separate exams for Grade 9 math (one for those taking applied and another for those in the academic stream).

Maybe there should be two different sets of tests?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
Maybe there should be two different sets of tests?

I've wondered that too, and actually asked why they didn't have two tests. I was told that the government wanted a "standard".

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by Taualumna
I've wondered that too, and actually asked why they didn't have two tests. I was told that the government wanted a "standard".

What a BS answer. How can there be a "standard" if students are learning different things? If I'm in the C stream the math will be different if I'm in the U stream (using the new curriculum designations" If there's going to be a standard then all students should have the exact same curriculum...there shouldn't be different streams.

[slight hijack] Taualumna, have you ever considered becoming a teacher? [/slight hijack]

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
What a BS answer. How can there be a "standard" if students are learning different things? If I'm in the C stream the math will be different if I'm in the U stream (using the new curriculum designations" If there's going to be a standard then all students should have the exact same curriculum...there shouldn't be different streams.

That's exactly what I thought!

[slight hijack] Taualumna, have you ever considered becoming a teacher? [/slight hijack]

Thought about it, but I'm not really sure if I want to, seeing what's going on in schools these days.

ETA: I'd love to do behind-the-scenes stuff with school boards or with the government, but most jobs want you to have actual classroom teaching experience.