What the heck is up, who are "they", and why are they trying to kill us?
I heard the last portion of a scary story on NPR today - caveat: I only listened to the end and can't find the story on npr.org so work with me.
Evidently, there is a new standardized math test in the works, either through the Minnesota or the Federal govt, that would require HS Juniors to pass or they won't graduate. Here's the scary part: a current advanced algebra student from Edina MN High School hadn't passed the preliminary test. For those of you outside Minnesota, Edina HS is one of the top schools in the NATION! Their advanced algebra is most likely college level. If those kids can't pass, what's in store for the rest?
Those of us who used to be the bedrock of the middle class can no longer afford our modest homes. Demand for welfare services are through the roof. Financial aid for college is being squeezed out. Community services like fire and police response are being cut. And now our perfectly FINE kids will be kept from High School diplomas!!!
The rich will always have education, security, jobs, homes, etc. But the rest of us are dependent on a functioning society for these items. If our kids can't even graduate freaking high school what will become of us? I'm just seeing this move toward a supreme uber-rich ruling class lording over peasants, with nothing in between. And it frightens me.
13 comments:
The state of FL has FCAT, and students must pass reading and math to graduate...yes it's unreal. There have been A/B students that do not test well that have been given a GED and not a HS diploma because of this farce! This all stemmed from NCLB and our former Governor Jeb Bush who changed the rigors of this testing.
I'm all for accountability, I want our kids to learn and be competitive, but there is so much emphasis put on this one test annually that kids all over our state are stressed out and sick every year!!!
We are just praying our girls pass this year, as sophomores, and then they are done with them...ugh!
It also puts math above any other subject. I suck at math, but I'm really good with languages and history and science. Why should my math deficiency override everything else?
Both of you - EXACTLY!! good points!
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/04/10/mca_math_testing/
Found the article on MPR!
Totally a pain.
That's the one!!! Chilling.
(Hi! I found you through Michael's blog! Nice to find you!)
I hate standardized testing. It forces teachers to teach to the test. Add No Child Left Behind, and it's a recipe for disaster. I know this sounds a bit nuts, but I am not convinced that the past reigning political party didn't have the destruction of public education in mind... I don't have one student in my inner city school that could pass a test like that. Well, maybe one. If we're lucky and study like heck!
Iguana - exactly again! I believe their whole agenda was to "prove" public education a failure and go to vouchers.
I heard Pawlenty spouting about this on MPR today. I don't typically talk back to the radio, but I do when that ass hat is on. His comment on this was that he wants to make a high school diploma mean something again. WTF?? Yet another test to teach to. Forget things that really matter- like critical thinking. We all must pass a damn test. Shame.
Don't let those Edina snots get you nervous. They just want everyone to think they're more 'advanced.' Remember the community college kid in NY who beat the Harvard dickwads in some big chess tournament? Ok, neither do I, but PG periodically brings it up in his constant fight against elitism.
Fewer kids can afford college and we want math standards that are set up as if everyone will be going into high level math needy jobs that don't exist?
Insanity.
Girllllllllllll!
As if the math is that important--all those tech jobs that require the outstanding math scores are outsourced to south Asia anyway.
What the heck is up, who are "they", and why are they trying to kill us?
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Julie
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