We now see in this regulation the institutionalization of The Bell Curve.
But, as usual, government gets it wrong as it converts sociological data into identity politics.
Posted on 10/12/2012 10:06:14 PM PDT by River Hawk
Palm Beach, Fla. (CBS TAMPA) – The Florida State Board of Education passed a plan that sets goals for students in math and reading based upon their race.
On Tuesday, the board passed a revised strategic plan that says that by 2018, it wants 90 percent of Asian students, 88 percent of white students, 81 percent of Hispanics and 74 percent of black students to be reading at or above grade level. For math, the goals are 92 percent of Asian kids to be proficient, whites at 86 percent, Hispanics at 80 percent and blacks at 74 percent. It also measures by other groupings, such as poverty and disabilities, reported the Palm Beach Post.
The plan has infuriated many community activists in Palm Beach County and across the state.
“To expect less from one demographic and more from another is just a little off-base,” Juan Lopez, magnet coordinator at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach, told the Palm Beach Post.
JFK Middle has a black student population of about 88 percent.
“Our kids, although they come from different socioeconomic backgrounds, they still have the ability to learn,” Lopez said. “To dumb down the expectations for one group, that seems a little unfair.”
Others in the community agreed with Lopez’s assessment. But the Florida Department of Education said the goals recognize that not every group is starting from the same point and are meant to be ambitious but realistic.
As an example, the percentage of white students scoring at or above grade level (as measured by whether they scored a 3 or higher on the reading FCAT) was 69 percent in 2011-2012, according to the state. For black students, it was 38 percent, and for Hispanics, it was 53 percent.
In addition, State Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan said that setting goals for different subgroups was needed to comply with terms of a waiver that Florida and 32 other states have from some provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. These waivers were used to make the states independent from some federal regulations.
“We have set a very high goal for all students to reach in Florida,” Shanahan said.
But Palm Beach County School Board vice-chairwoman Debra Robinson isn’t buying the rationale.
“I’m somewhere between complete and utter disgust and anger and disappointment with humanity,” Robinson told the Post. She said she has been receiving complaints from upset black and Hispanic parents since the state board took its action this week.
Robinson called the state board’s actions essentially “proclaiming racism” and said she wants Palm Beach County to continue to educate every child with the same expectations, regardless of race.
Incredibly insulting!!!
If I were a Black parent I would be pretty pissed off that my child is worth 14% less than a white child.
That's called Affirmative Action, Juan. I take it you don't approve of that!?! Good I don't either. Now let's talk about college admissions policies and government hiring practices.
Insulting—and an indicator of the problems with having group-based goals like this at all.
You need to be putting out two articles a day now.
It's unbelievable that the pace has increased to this level.
Actually this make more sense than No Child Left Behind, which had 100% as its target.
Yep, I can try to get my kids to run 2 hour marathons, that can be my goal - but it ain’t ever going to happen while I’m on this Earth.
I thought this was another one of those satire posts to catch people not actually reading the article. You know what I mean, “The Onion” or from “Associate Posers”. No, this appears to be a real proposal. This is a clear case of the “Bigotry of Low Expectations”.
It is, of course, offensive to set public expectations for one racial group lower than another. The ultimate goal ought to be 100% for every student no matter *who* they are.
At the same time, it is also probably unrealistic - in the short term - to expect groups that aren't performing well as a whole to catch up with groups that have been performing well. If the disparity between white and black student groups in Florida really is that great (69% reaching a level of satisfactory achievement versus only 38%), it's going to take long-term efforts. Meaning the numbers for success in the short-term might not be the same for every group.
Nor would I say that the lower number automatically means, again in the short-term, less concern or effort for minority students. The bench mark goal for black students is to basically double the percentage (from 38 to 74) of students who meet adequate academic standards. The group currently struggling the most is targeted for the most efforts in improvement. Again, though, the ultimate goal should be 100% success for all students, be they black, white, or Martian.
We now see in this regulation the institutionalization of The Bell Curve.
But, as usual, government gets it wrong as it converts sociological data into identity politics.
Why are Asians at the top of the heap always?
WWEWD? What will Elizabeth Warren do?
I could go on and on and on....
The problem for the Black American Feral Male is that no crackas give them nuthin’...
Watch this video and cry.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f66_1349470513
yep. i remember taking Psychology classes, were I.Q. tests were considered real and valid science.
actuaries, report groups are more like to die of heart disease, or get in car accidents.
but, PC killed the idea, that I.Q. is a useful tool.
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another good book, is IQ and the Wealth of Nations.
Florida says minorities are genetically stupid!
Embarrassing, as this is a GOP dominated state...especially in state government
But, should not be surprised. We have a La Raza/Amnesty GOP US Senator everyone thinks is “conservative”...we have a GOP Governor and Attorney General helping the Black KKK to lynch an innocent man from my county...now we have education standards that are tougher for Whites and Asians because “Hispanics and Blacks are not as smart”
The only things that saves the GOP in this state is that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and the “Village People Cowboy Lady” US house member from Miami are both Dems
This sort of thing and the federalization of education generally will force the colleges and universities to add two years below Freshman level to “remediate.” This will simply lower the level of education attainable before the costs of university must be assumed in order to be educated t what should be high school level and is actually many levels below academic standards of a few generations ago.
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