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Educational ineptitude, Cont'd [Education majors have the lowest SAT scores of any college major]
jewishworldreview.com ^ | May 19, 2004 | Walter Williams

Posted on 06/15/2007 10:38:16 AM PDT by grundle

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) compiles loads of statistics on education. The NCES "Digest of Education Statistics" Table 136 shows average SAT scores by student characteristics for 2001. Students who select education as their major have the lowest SAT scores of any major (964). Math majors have the highest (1174).

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: education; sat; stats; walterwilliams
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To: N3WBI3; leda

Indeed, “doctor” is Latin for “teacher.”

Wow...I must be getting old...I took SAT’s and GRE’s when you had to wait for your scores...


61 posted on 06/15/2007 5:31:58 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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To: scrabblehack

You still have to wait for SAT’s. But you can get your GRE’s right away if you take them on the computer. But SAT’s - still old style with paper and pencil.


62 posted on 06/15/2007 5:34:19 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Amelia

Nice tag line! I didn’t take SAT’s. I was living in Denver when I was a senior and the ACT’s were the way to go out there. Pretty sure I had a 25 or 26 for math, and I remember having a 32 for verbals. It blew my counselor away. Always sucked at math. Probably because I was little (in Georgia) I remember being told not to worry about math, that only blue stockings were good at math. My granny, God bless her, had no idea what she was saying.


63 posted on 06/15/2007 5:37:57 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: SoftballMominVA

It’s an average. It’s not reflective of any individual teacher. For all I know, you could have gotten 1600 on the SAT.


64 posted on 06/15/2007 5:49:23 PM PDT by grundle
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To: scrabblehack

i’m impatient and didn’t want to wait, so i took the gre
at a testing center on a computer. it shows you your
scores as soon as you finish, but your official scores are
still mailed to you. this was about ‘93, i think.


65 posted on 06/15/2007 5:49:39 PM PDT by leda (19yrs ... only 4,981yrs to go ;))
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To: glorgau

EXACTLY! I wasn’t an ed major in college, my major along with the rest called them the mickey mouse major/dept.

I had a B.S degree and on my way to law school when I decided to get my certification in teaching and M.S. degree.

Long story short, or as short as I can make it, I had to take the Praxis test a couple years ago (my NTE’s years ago weren’t valid anymore). I knew about it one month before the test and signed up, bought the test packet, and surprise, received a 90% on the test. you know, the test that’s so damn hard most ed majors can’t pass, the test that’s so hard most teachers who have been teaching for 20, 30 + years can’t pass. You know, the test where the passing grade is in the 50’s, maybe low 60’s in some states. Whatever! I never thought I’d say this but that test is EASY! and most teachers, whether they’re right out of (or still in) college or those who have been teaching for many years, can’t pass it! And most who pass, pass with a 50-60 %. I hadn’t been in the classroom (stay at home mom) for many many years. I bought a book, a test packet, less than one month before the test and I got a 90%!

I use to hate those signs “those who can’t do, teach” but now I understand just how true it is. Dont’ get me wrong, there are many wonderful, highly intelligent teachers. Unfortunately, they’re the minority in the field. I wasn’t an ed major in college, but we called them mickey mouse majors since the requirements and course load were so incredibly easy compared to the rest of us (in our minds).

Teachers don’t want testing (for themselves) because most can’t pass even at the incredibly low level for passing.


66 posted on 06/15/2007 6:03:11 PM PDT by Twink
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To: SoftballMominVA

I was lousy at math, and hated it, until I got to algebra. Go figure.


67 posted on 06/15/2007 6:04:15 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Twink
Teachers don’t want testing (for themselves) because most can’t pass even at the incredibly low level for passing.

I aced them as well. What was your major? And did you teach, and are you teaching now?

68 posted on 06/15/2007 6:07:26 PM PDT by Amelia (SATs (30+ years ago) V=690, M=710)
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To: Twink
the test that’s so damn hard most ed majors can’t pass, the test that’s so hard most teachers who have been teaching for 20, 30 + years can’t pass.

Most ed majors, and most experienced teachers are failing this test? LOL!!

Prove it.

You are aware, are you not, that the PRAXIS series is a huge group of tests, and most states have their own set of tests which their teacher candidates must take?

So, to speak about "the Praxis" as a test that all teachers must take is disingenuous. We don't know how hard your test was in relation to any other test that any other state requires.

I passed both PRAXIS exams my state requires with a 92% and a 92.5%. Neither test was hard, although one was all short answer and essay. They did encompass a huge body of knowledge which made them near impossible to study for.

69 posted on 06/15/2007 6:21:54 PM PDT by Dianna
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To: Amelia

I was an Admin of Justice major (that’s what it was called at Penn State then - criminal justice everywhere else), after I left pre med. Then, I was admin of Justice (B.S degree) and pre law with a minor in political science. My two Master degrees (education, is M.S not M.A) and History.

I taught back in the late 80’s early 90’s (entered a teacher certification program while working at a law firm, got certified, then continued in Grad school) then,I was a stay at home mom. I entered education again, professionaly, a few years ago when my youngest was in school full time. I’m teaching now but considering giving it up/looking elsewhere. It wasn’t as liberal as it is now. I’m having a difficult time justifying what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. Right now, I’m going to try teaching in a Catholic school (if I get the job). The Catholic Schools/Parishes are really liberal/leftist around here. Just not as much as the public schools.


70 posted on 06/15/2007 6:22:21 PM PDT by Twink
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To: Twink
Which Praxis would you be referring? Praxis I or Praxis II or any of the subject tests also included. My guess is that you took the Praxis I, which is not a difficult test at all.

So, if you want to make this type of statement, back it up with a link or some data, and be sure to state which Praxis it is.

71 posted on 06/15/2007 6:27:23 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Live free or die
I have a score of about 1080 which is very poor and I’ve recently graduated from William and Mary where I got As and Bs.

Hey, my score is (slightly) higher than yours! LOL!! I knew I was going to a California State University because that was what I could afford. My high school GPA was high enough that my SAT score could suck and I would still be admitted. Even at 17, I chose to expend my energy in ways that were most satisfying to myself. I spent little effort on the SATs.

72 posted on 06/15/2007 6:28:31 PM PDT by Dianna
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To: Dianna

I don’t have to prove it. Take a look at the statstest scores. The scores! They are failing this test, this incredibly easy test. Most states require no more than a 63 for passing.

I’m more than aware of it. Apparently, you are not aware of anything concerning this test. I’m certified at the high school level for: English, Science, Math, and History. And yes, I had to take all content areas of this test even though I was certified in PA and NY at the time. And, I wasn’t an ed major in college. So now, I’m certified in PA, NY and NJ. I’m also certified to teach high school math, science, english and social studies and I’m a reading specialist per those 3 states.

And you teach which content area?


73 posted on 06/15/2007 6:30:25 PM PDT by Twink
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To: SoftballMominVA

Neither is difficult.

Wow. Never thought the liberal faction would be so prevalent here.

I stated everything in my last post.

You took which test? Was it hard? If any Praxis test was hard for you or anyone else, you shouldn’t be educating anyone.


74 posted on 06/15/2007 6:32:47 PM PDT by Twink
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To: Sleeping Beauty
The worst, most ineffective teachers I ever had were math teachers.

The ones that were ed majors?

75 posted on 06/15/2007 6:33:17 PM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy (Nappy is the new N-word.)
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To: Twink

What state/subject? Granted, I’m in GA which is pretty much Bible Belt, but we’re not liberal down here. Are you still in PA?


76 posted on 06/15/2007 6:35:11 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Twink
I took the Praxis I. Missed 1 question on the math, scored a perfect on the reading, received a 95% on the writing.

I also have a masters from the University of Virginia. On this year's SOL's 5 of my 6 students passed the writing exam.(I teach special education). The one that failed was a student that has been in this country 18 months and he even came close.

I'll let my credentials speak for themselves as to whether or not I should be educating anyone.

77 posted on 06/15/2007 6:36:02 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Twink

I’m a certified reading specialist in Virginia with a co-masters in special education learning disabilities. I did not take the Praxis II as there is no Praxis II for reading (or there wasn’t 5 years ago when I finished my masters)


78 posted on 06/15/2007 6:38:37 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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To: Twink

Well then, you’re also proof that not all public school teachers are stupid.

If they made education courses harder, do you think there would be more teachers or fewer teachers? Do you think they’d have enough teachers to fill all the classrooms?

Why or why not?


79 posted on 06/15/2007 6:39:59 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Amelia

In Virginia, colleges no longer offer an “education” major per se for prospective teachers in middle and high schools. One majors in a subject area, then gets a Masters in Ed with the required courses. I’m not sure what el ed majors do. Maybe they still do education majors, but not middle/high.


80 posted on 06/15/2007 6:42:00 PM PDT by SoftballMominVA (Never argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience)
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