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Judge Rules Second Version of New York Teachers’ Exam Is Also Racially Biased
NY Times ^ | 6/5/2015

Posted on 06/08/2015 4:52:52 PM PDT by Altura Ct.

A federal judge on Friday found that an exam for New York teaching candidates was racially discriminatory because it did not measure skills necessary to do the job, the latest step in a court battle over teacher qualifications that has spanned nearly 20 years.

The exam, the second incarnation of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test, called the LAST-2, was administered from 2004 through 2012 and was designed to test an applicant’s knowledge of liberal arts and science.

But the test was found to fail minority teaching candidates at a higher rate than white candidates. According to Friday’s decision, written by Judge Kimba M. Wood of Federal District Court in Manhattan, the pass rate for African-American and Latino candidates was between 54 percent and 75 percent of the pass rate for white candidates. Once it was established that minority applicants were failing at a disproportionately high rate, the burden shifted to education officials to prove that the skills being tested were necessary to do the job; otherwise, the test would be ruled discriminatory.

In creating the test, the company, National Evaluation Systems, sent surveys to educators around New York State to determine if the test’s “content objectives” were relevant and important to teaching. The samples for both surveys were small, however, Judge Wood said.

The judge found that National Evaluation Systems, now called Evaluation Systems, part of Pearson Education, went about the process backward.

“Instead of beginning with ascertaining the job tasks of New York teachers, the two LAST examinations began with the premise that all New York teachers should be required to demonstrate an understanding of the liberal arts,” Judge Wood wrote.

Joshua Sohn, a partner at the firm Mishcon de Reya, who represents the prospective teachers in the case, echoed the that sentiment.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: arth; education; newyork
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To: metmom
Sad...But....Another Reason....to....homeschool!
21 posted on 06/08/2015 5:45:27 PM PDT by wintertime (Stop treating government teachers like they are reincarnated Mother Teresas!)
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To: TexasGator
So, the judge determined that knowledge is not required for a teacher to do their job.

I find it hard to argue with that conclusion. Well, I guess you do have to "know" that more government/higher taxes is always good, Ebola is God, and white Christian middle-aged males are wrong even if they say grass is green. But that's the only knowledge required.

22 posted on 06/08/2015 5:47:52 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: Altura Ct.

The judge, Kimba Woods, was a failed Clinton nominee for AG.


23 posted on 06/08/2015 5:49:37 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: aquila48

“The Bell Curve” Whites = 100, Asians = 105, Hispanics = 98, blacks = 92, Democrats = 70


24 posted on 06/08/2015 5:52:25 PM PDT by stubernx98 (cranky, but reasonable)
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To: Altura Ct.

Time to drop all the pretenses. Just get a light meter and base the tests on the amount of light reflected off the skin of the applicant. Higher reflectivity = lower score.


25 posted on 06/08/2015 5:53:06 PM PDT by Colorado Doug (Now I know how the Indians felt to be sold out for a few beads and trinkets)
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To: EDINVA

Wow. Hadn’t heard of Kimba ‘Nanygate’ Wood in a long time. Appointed by Reagan to appease Alfonse D’Amato and ended up being close to BJ Clinton. Playboy Bunnies get around!


26 posted on 06/08/2015 5:56:51 PM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: Altura Ct.

In Benghazi Clinton’s state, “Does it really matter now”? It’s liberal arts, why test it anyway as it’s all subjective?


27 posted on 06/08/2015 6:16:50 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (Government sponsored organized crime (other than Chicago) ... government worker unions!)
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To: Altura Ct.
yet no examples of said bias
28 posted on 06/08/2015 6:21:01 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Altura Ct.

Eliminate any and all restrictions and requirements on black people. Airline pilots? Who needs training. Training is racist. Only ONE pediatric neurosurgeon, Ben Carson, we need more. If we have to lower standards to diversify the hospital wards so be it. Teachers? We need more uneducated black teachers who can’t pass the most basic of exams to teach unteachable and out of control black students just because liberals will feel warm and fuzzy. And when the students can’t read or write and have zero skills, allow them to loot and riot because they don’t have “opportunities.” Rinse and repeat.


29 posted on 06/08/2015 6:45:26 PM PDT by Organic Panic
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To: Altura Ct.

Anyone with any sense would say that those who fail aren’t qualified.


30 posted on 06/08/2015 6:47:58 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: Altura Ct.

What skill is needed to take attendance?


31 posted on 06/08/2015 6:55:33 PM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Altura Ct.
“Instead of beginning with ascertaining the job tasks of New York teachers, the two LAST examinations began with the premise that all New York teachers should be required to demonstrate an understanding of the liberal arts,” Judge Wood wrote.

I'm flabbergasted.

32 posted on 06/08/2015 7:04:37 PM PDT by 2111USMC (Aim Small Miss Small)
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To: From The Deer Stand

They did that already, these are the dumb ones


33 posted on 06/08/2015 7:24:59 PM PDT by eyeamok
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To: CASchack

Mykroar...I am not a llama.


34 posted on 06/08/2015 7:37:30 PM PDT by mykroar ("Never believe anything until it has been officially denied." - Otto von Bismarck)
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To: Altura Ct.
My question to the judge....when you took your bar exam did you score the highest in your class???? If not, did you consider the test biased in favor of the person who did come in first????

Did you realize that some people are smarter that others, study more than others, prepare better than others....

Don't blame the test, you weren't up to par with the person who aced it.

35 posted on 06/08/2015 7:55:49 PM PDT by terycarl (COMMON SENSE PREVAILS OVERALL)
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To: Altura Ct.

We can land a man on the moon but we still cant make a test where blacks score as good as whites (unless it involves a basketball).


36 posted on 06/08/2015 8:01:31 PM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (Things are only going to get worse.)
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To: Brooklyn Attitude

Sounds like a case the U.N.C. Afro-American Studies dept. Could fix for the judge. Reports are they have about 20 years experience with
passing off losers as winners.


37 posted on 06/08/2015 8:24:46 PM PDT by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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To: Altura Ct.

I hope one of the first Graduates from this goes on to become a brain surgeon....and their first patient is the Judge.


38 posted on 06/08/2015 8:26:28 PM PDT by VRWCarea51 (The original 1998 version)
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To: Altura Ct.
... Hmmmm .... so what exactly would changing an entire education system to appease a single ethnic group accomplish?

..... Whatever happened to that .... "All men are created equal" .... AND ... "We want to be treated the same as everybody else" stuff?

39 posted on 06/08/2015 8:48:58 PM PDT by R_Kangel ( "A Nation of Sheep ..... Will Beget ..... a Nation Ruled by Wolves.")
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To: Altura Ct.; 2Jedismom; 6amgelsmama; AAABEST; aberaussie; AccountantMom; Aggie Mama; agrace; ...

This has been going on for DECADES in Buffalo.

The teachers are too stupid to pass the exam, so instead of admitting there’s a problem, they cry “racism”.

It’s never fooled anyone that I ever encountered.

Another Reason to Homeschool


40 posted on 06/08/2015 9:44:08 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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