Md test scores - English competency defeats 60% of students - Half fail algebra and biology

Baltimore Sun ^ | January 3, 2004 | Mike Bowler

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Maryland students scored poorly on the new high school competency examinations again last year, and officials said they expect no improvement until passing the tests is required for graduation.

About half of 65,000 students failed the 2003 algebra and biology tests, about the same rate as 2002. Four in 10 failed government, and six in 10 failed English, including a large majority of poor and minority students and those with disabilities.

The results were posted without notice on the state Education Department's Web site Christmas week, just as students and teachers were headed home for the holidays. But Gary Heath, the state testing chief, said there was no effort to hide the dismal results.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I agree except that "black leadership" wants them on the plantation as their power base.

Regards,

[milan]

Okay, I finished grading the math placement tests yesterday. Only 84 students showed up (classes start Moday and this was the final session). There are 20 questions on the test. Out of 84 students, 81 scored a 12 or below. That means that 81 out of 84 students got a 60% or below. However, only about 4 people got a 12, so about 77 people got a 55% or below. The lowest score was a 2. There were 3 of those. If I remember correctly, the highest was an 18 (18, 16, 14 were the high scores). I was amazed to see that we didn't get any zeros, which happens from time to time.

[savedbygrace]

Jim, I think you may be confusing knowledge and understanding with native intelligence.

Properly taught, most kids can develop a greater understanding of Algebra than the public schools are accomplishing.

I know a number of home-schoolers who were taken out of public school because of low grades, but who absolutely shine in these subjects after being tutored at home for a few weeks.

[milan]

You can't dumb down or smarten up society.

It is what it is.

That, unfortunately is the same mentality that so many liberals display: "they can't have a democracy in the middle east!" Yes, they can, and they will. I believe we will see a chain reaction throughout the middle east over the next 10-15 years.

Back on the subject. I am not any more intelligent than anyone else. I can honestly say that I feel inadeqaute in many areas. I made it to Cal II. I know that the vast majority of students can do Algebra. The problem is not intelligence. The problems are many, but the issue is not about what kids can comprehend. I will never accept that as an option. All of our children are capable.

[gingerky]

I don't know if all children are capable but I believe the majority are. And I don't know if the public school system will ever have the ability to ensure that each child reaches their potential.

In my children's school district we have a talented and gifted program. Children are given a non-verbal intelligence test in third grade and then are accepted based on their score. The TAG teacher told me this certain test was the best she could find and she wanted a test that you couldn't study for. It was reasoning and sequencing. Some children made it into the TAG program who later didn't perform academically as well as some who didn't make it. This caused a great outcry among some teachers who didn't like the fact that "little Johnny" with the C in her class got to go to TAG each week. The point I made was that maybe "little Johnny" wasn't being reached. I said "there is something in his head". (One of my friends is one of the teachers in question)

Teachers like kids who are hard-working and well-behaved and I understand that. Ever so often though you see that gem of a teacher who can grab the attention and respect of the other kids and go with them. Those teachers have a gift and should be rewarded for it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I was amazed to see that we didn't get any zeros, which happens from time to time.

Wouldn't the laws of chance make that difficult?

[I_dmc]

Its easy to explain actually. Learning isn't cool. "We don't need no education..." (included in a rap tune, in case you're wondering).

[I_dmc]

concepts learned in algebra, geometry, trig, and calculus helped thinking skills more than anything else.   Once upon a time, a course used to be taught in our schools called "Logic".
 

[I_dmc]

I read a article once about a study showing inner city children in 4th grade that were above average were average by the 8th grade.

[Jim Noble]

I read a article once about a study showing inner city children in 4th grade that were above average were average by the 8th grade.

There is no dispute that the next Einstein may be living in inner city Detroit right now.

There are some minority inner city children who are smarter than you and I will ever be.

This is not an argument for UNIVERSAL twelfth grade education.

I did not say, show me the data that SOME of our children are capable-this is self evident to anyone with eyes and ears.

I said, show me the data that ALL of our children are capable of twelfth grade academic proficiency.

There is no such data because the proposition is false.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

A voucher, otoh, is a grant that is not based on tax liability

Tom, I understand your point. I agree w/you at the individual & family level. However, at the societal level, vouchers are tied in to taxes.

The citizens of NJ (& every other state) have decided to fund public education. This means that families with no kids, as well as all single adults, still contribute to the funding. Everyone pays, whether or not they have kids. I have no problem with this.

The question becomes: who decides how to spend the, say, $8,000 per student that the public has allocated for this purpose?

I'm a big supporter of vouchers because the decision is given directly to each parent.

[milan]

Wouldn't the laws of chance make that difficult?

Yeah, that is what makes it so odd. Some of these kids don't even have probability on their sides.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I read a article once about a study showing inner city children in 4th grade that were above average were average by the 8th grade.

Test results have shown, the longer they're in public school, the lower students preform on tests.

[upier]

Your assumtion is that english is their native language. GA has a big problem with illegal Mexicans.