Posted on 08/29/2009 8:23:16 AM PDT by Graybeard58
"Kids' lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution," read the headline on the latest smog-mongering story from The Associated Press. The article went on to explain researchers had burdened 249 pregnant women in New York City with backpacks containing air-quality monitors and later compared their children's test scores. From this tiny sample, researchers concluded pollution has a negative effect on babies' intelligence.
But there's more than one way to skin a stat. Suppose one of the researchers and the new data were placed in a time machine and transported to the early 1970s. What sort of reception would he get?
Well, the first thing his 1972 counterparts would want to know is how bad pollution had become by 2009. In the interest of honest science, the researcher would have to concede the air is cleaner, big time. According to one 2006 report, the amount of fine particulate matter had declined 40 percent since 1980; ozone, 20 percent; nitrous oxide, 37 percent; sulfur dioxide, 63 percent; carbon monoxide, 74 percent; and lead, 96 percent.
"Wow!" the scientists from 1972 would exclaim, upon being told of the theory that bad air begets low IQs. Naturally, they would surmise the reverse is true, too. "Your test scores must be right through the roof!"
Not exactly. In 1972, the average Scholastic Aptitude Test (as it was known) was 1039. The test was dumbed down in 1994; some of the tougher lines of language questioning were excised and students were allowed to use calculators for the math portion. Nevertheless, the average score had declined to 1017 by 2006, when the test structure and scoring system changed, and the trend has persisted.
"Hmmm," the 1972 scientists would say as they pondered the data. Then one or two of them would brighten with comprehension and ask pointedly, "What in the world is the matter with your schools?"
Ping to a Republican-American Editorial.
If you want on or off this list, let me know.
“What in the world is the matter with your schools?”
ha.
Well, I’m from Flagstaff, Arizona, a town which boasts of “the cleanest air in the nation.” It’s packed with Democrats and the kids are still pretty dumb. Of course, the parents aren’t much to brag on either.
Or perhaps that smarter people move to the country and dumber people move to the cities...and I'm wondering how that squares with political preferences...
Not being able to access the rest of the article, this I know ....kids in large urban centers, who are the offspring of teen mothers, also have poor prenatal care and many of the mothers are drug addicted and were so during the pregnancy. One does not need a study to know what the crotch-fruit will be like in a few years.
Thanks for the ping Graybeard. Seems to me that it wouldn’t take too much to ensure the recipients of taxpayer dollars for such studies were credible.
Nevermind...Fed Gov...
Well done Graybeard58!
Concise, to the point, and easy for victims of
our state run schools to read and comprehend.
There are a number of reasons why our schools are fasiling our children.
First the public school system is a disaster. The students who graduate from public schools can bearly read, write their name or do simple math.
The schools are run by the government (another reason not to pass government controlled health care by the way) and as such they are beholden only to liberal philosophy and run by and for the teachers unions.
This system carries on right through to the university system where students are indoctrinated and brainwashed in liberal philosophy and revisionist American history.
The best education a child can get is in a private school, a charter school, home schooled or in a school that is run by some religion such as a Catholic school. Those priests and nuns won’t take BS or crap from students and they do learn their subjects.
It is easy to wake the mind with truth.
You got it all. Their editorials are published in full, on line.
I know it says:
Subscribers can read more in the e-edition. Login here
But you can't because there is not any more.
Perfect Editorial!!!!
Perfect Comment!!!
Liberals, socialists and nanny-staters run them!
With the hysteria over second hand smoke, why don't they do research on those of us who actually lived through massive amounts of second hand smoke - baby boomers! People used to smoke everywhere and all my friends had a parent (or both) that smoked in the house and the car. If second hand smoke was/is so bad, why aren't we boomers dropping like files?
What is it about that (attracting Dems I'm askin')? Our oldest son and his family live in Maricopa and will go to Flagstaff for a "breather" for cooler temps and he says the same thing. It about drives him nuts but he can stay clear of the loonies and enjoy the mountains and great climate for a brief respite.
“Correlation does not imply causation.” You heard it here first on Free Republic.
Some of the worst chili, too.
[... If second hand smoke was/is so bad, why
aren’t we boomers dropping like files? ...]
Perhaps second hand smoke doesn’t kill you.
Instead it causes a type of mental illness called
“liberalism”.
I’m just sayin’...
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