[cgk]

The kids are the losers here, in addition to us. Graduating without being able to perform basic elements of education? What a joke. This is our next generation, folks. What a way to prepare them for the real world. Let them skate by at below the bar performances, telling them they were unfairly targeted, therefore deserve a pass. I can't wait for the lawsuits to erupt when these kids apply for jobs, can't even fill out an application, and don't get hired.

[cgk]

FCAT ping.

[lady lawyer]

According to O'Reilly, the passing score is only 40 percent. An important fact omitted from this story. Another important omitted fact is that each student has up to five chances to take the test and get the ridiculously low passing score.

[Normal4me]

Tell me about it. I ran a framing crew (Carpentry) a few years ago and tried to hire some new talent. I discovered that many didn't know fractions(i.e. 1/2", 1/4"...etc) or how to do basic math. I sat down during lunch time and tried to explain some basics only to be met with a bewildered look in their eyes.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Dumbing down of America Lowering the passing scores.....so they can graduate?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that educating these children so they can *earn* a diploma was (oops!) overlooked as an option?

I can't even to imagine trying to refute logic such as this...

[Pan_Yans Wife]

This year you need 287 in English and 295 in Math. Next year, due to more protests, you will need 270 in English and 280 in Math. The year after that you will need...

And so on, and so on, and so on.

[who knows what evil?]

Does ANYONE have any ACTUAL questions/problems from this test that they could post? O'Reilly ran through some on his show, but I caught it at the end and missed out. My understanding is just about any moron could pass this test. Unfortunately; today's youth doesn't come up to the intellectual standards of the average moron.

[The Wizard]

if you can't get a 40 on a test you can take 5 timnes you need help and don't deserve to graduate

[Phantom Lord]

How dare you evil republicans even suggest these kids should fail, be held back, and have their self esteem damaged.

You people are worse than Hitler!

[Dr. Frank fan]

Oh, this is nothing. Heard a story from a math prof at a major university. He was teaching a course that's required for certain non-math, non-science majors (read: math for people who hate math). Everyone bombed the exam. Day after the exam, student raised his hand and gave this speech: he thinks the test was biased and discriminatory. Why? Cuz the test tests their math skills, and the people who take this class are people who aren't good at math. Testing them on their math abilities therefore discriminates against them. Class applauds.

College.

[BADROTOFINGER]

I was at the neighbor's while they were watching CNN and they posted 2 questions from the test. One was basically this. If a satellite is a cube 5 ft per side, and and one cubic foot weighs 24 pounds, then what does the satellite weigh on Earth? The anchor said that he had given the question to many CNN staffers and said that NO ONE COULD ANSWER IT! I was floored. While I had no pen/paper or calculator, I could tell you that the answer was 125x24 lbs. The next question was equally as silly, tho the CNN 'professionals' declined to state whether or not they could answer the question.

I wonder if there is somewhere online where one could take these 'extremely difficult' and 'unfair' tests like this one and the WA state WASL? As a high school drop out, I would like to give them a try...JFK

[ladylib]

Florida always had poor schools from what I understand. How did high school graduates earn a living before the implementation of high-stakes tests? Did Florida import a workforce and did good companies go out of state because Florida's high school graduates weren't capable of doing the job?

Did Florida's high school graduates go on to college before the implementation of high-stakes tests?

[SamiGirl]

A large base of dumb people is an advantage to the Democrats. It ensures more votes for them.

Why even bother with a test? Getting 40% of the questions right is and always has been a failing grade. Just eliminate the test, hand them the diplomas and keep them as stupid as possible. This way you increase the ever-growing underclass that always votes for Democrats.

[NonValueAdded]

Here are a few related items:

The "lowering" of the score was actually holding the students to the standard in effect when they first took the test. Probably the state caved in the face of threatened lawsuits.

Most Florida school districts moved up the first day of school to early August in order to have "more time to prep for the FCAT." While this may be true, it also raises havoc with "normal" vacation plans, results is a dribble of "first day" students throughout August disrupting the class, places an enormous expense burden on the schools to keep classrooms air conditioned in the heat of August (money that could go to actually educating someone), and finally, is a nice way for teachers and administrators to hit parents (and voters) with a nice little "in your face."

Notice how little you hear questioning how these students got this far without learning real basic stuff. See post #7.

Remember, this is the workforce that will be taking care of you in your golden years.

[neutrino]

Apres moi, les deluge. Education, such as it is, is a joke. College graduates are, in many instances, functionally illiterate. Reading is rare, academic dishonesty endemic - and the trend is getting worse.

Ah, well. I suppose there will be job security for those of us still able to add numbers and comprehend written words.

[Marie Antoinette]

Pingaroonie for research...