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House OKs end to TAKS exam (Texas - So many kids failed the test, so let's get rid of it)
DallasMorningNews ^ | 05/15/2007 | TERRENCE STUTZ

Posted on 05/15/2007 3:51:19 PM PDT by devane617

click here to read article


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To: devane617; basil
Some people don’t get the point you made. These “end of course” exams will not be standardized and will not be graded on a statewide basis. It basically takes the testing from the state and places it in the hands of individual school systems.

Right. I kind of think "basil" will understand, though.

This is further evidence that states will do anything but actually educate. It's too much work for all involved to create a high standard and maintain it. It's even harder, for a myriad of reasons, to try to push children to learn and work hard to learn.

21 posted on 05/15/2007 4:15:29 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: devane617

The Exit TAKS is given to Juniors. Seniors have had FOUR chances to pass the test by the end of their senior year.


22 posted on 05/15/2007 4:16:37 PM PDT by mathluv (Never Forget!)
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To: rwfromkansas
Still, I don’t think a test really is required at all....if they pass the class, they should graduate.

That way, the schools can improve their graduation rates by awarding passing grades to every student in every class.

23 posted on 05/15/2007 4:19:18 PM PDT by Logophile
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To: raybbr
I have thought for a long time that the public schools, especially in TX have so many students who don't speak English, and aren't made to learn it, as well as certain other races whose parents aren't involved in what's going on at school, bring the passing scores way down. I know that Houston, in particular, is having a huge problem with the New Orleans evacuees who are now staying in Houston.

It seems to me that the new system would hold the course teachers' feet to the fire. If their students aren't passing these tests, it seem to me it would put the onus on the teachers to be sure that the students were learning what she/he is teaching.

I'm always for dumping a lot of responsibility into the individual teacher's lap. Of course I'm sure the teachers' unions will hate this.

24 posted on 05/15/2007 4:27:49 PM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment--buy another gun today!)
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To: 68skylark

The article wasn’t as clear as i’d like - i think the writer had his work “edited” or maybe it was not too clear to begin with? huh - lame writing is pervasive in newspapers.

i wonder if it’s edit problems or writing problems.


25 posted on 05/15/2007 4:33:43 PM PDT by Principled
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To: basil
If their students aren't passing these tests, it seem to me it would put the onus on the teachers to be sure that the students were learning what she/he is teaching.

Exactly. The curriculum will be weakened so that the students pass the end of course exam. You will have districts around Houston teaching four or five years below age level just so they pass the end of course exam.

26 posted on 05/15/2007 4:34:28 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: devane617

He he he... you didn’t do anything to confuse anyone I don’t think. I think it was poorly written piece PLUS it had to be excerpted.

That makes it hard to get much out of unless one is willing to spend time and energy analyzing some random newspaper article when other more productive things can be done with the time!


27 posted on 05/15/2007 4:35:55 PM PDT by Principled
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To: raybbr

Oh—surely there will be some state standard for course curriculum. I certainly hope that’s not left up to the individual teacher. Of course, I also think teachers should be required to take regular tests, too——but I have no illusions that that will happen any time soon.


28 posted on 05/15/2007 5:14:10 PM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment--buy another gun today!)
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To: basil
They also instituted a new testing program, if you read the full article. I think the new system makes a heck of a lot more sense.

Love ya Basil, but you're wrong on this one. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to pass the existing tests. If you can't pass this test, you shouldn't graduate until you do.

My grandfather was on the school board in our little town in the '40s. In his day, the literacy rate was 99%. Foreigners assimilated into the system, got jobs, got educated and thrived. Now we do nothing but coddle the inept. We are far too concerned with making sure these kids have a good self image and don't give a damn whether they learn basic survival skills.

My daughters are not only expected to pass, but are expected to excel. They have each taken 4 or 5 TX TAKS tests and done well on each. I blame the parents as much as the kids, who are largely on auto-pilot.

29 posted on 05/15/2007 5:29:36 PM PDT by Jolly Green
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To: basil
They also instituted a new testing program

But is this new program called 'Don't Know, Don't Tell?' hehe
30 posted on 05/15/2007 5:47:38 PM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
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To: devane617

We have a similar test in Arizona where Students take it sophomore year and have 2-3 chances every year to pass. I remember about 100 seniors still had not passed it, i also remember that most of the questions where simple. An example would be “On a 6-sided cube numbered 1 - 6 what are the odds of rolling a 3 or less� I believe i missed 2 questions, sadly.


31 posted on 05/15/2007 6:08:08 PM PDT by ryan125
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To: devane617

What you need to know is why this started in the first place. Liberalism. In the 1980’s The Liberal way of not testing fad and gone from California through Texas. Students were showing declining SAT test and failing the basics in college. Yet they all had passed High School. The invention of OBE Outcome Based Education, the use of Portfolios instead of grades, the idea that rote memorization of facts and figures was a waste of brain space. The idea of critical thinking instead of learning math and science. The use of calculators instead of learning math facts. Site reading instead of phonics. The reaction of conservative parents was the formation of the Christian Coalitions and the running of conservatives in the Houston area for school boards. They were successful and decided they had to pass a state law requiring a base level of knowledge of basic skills standardized testing of Texas students to make sure the at least had a rudimentary basic level of knowledge The Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS), a criterion-referenced test, was mandated by the Texas legislature in 1984 to be instituted beginning with the school year 1985-86. This has been modified into to the current testing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Assessment_of_Academic_Skills
At the same time Home schooling took off http://www.thsc.org/about_us/hs_history_lesson.asp


32 posted on 05/15/2007 6:18:41 PM PDT by pwatson
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To: basil
Oh—surely there will be some state standard for course curriculum. I certainly hope that’s not left up to the individual teacher.

Then why eliminate the TAKS?

33 posted on 05/15/2007 6:42:39 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: Logophile

I don’t know of any schools that do that.

My school didn’t.

We didn’t have graduation exams, either.


34 posted on 05/15/2007 8:24:38 PM PDT by rwfromkansas (http://xanga.com/rwfromkansas)
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To: devane617

We are failing to educate our children.
The education system is failing.
And all the educrats want is lower standards, more money and removal of systems to ensure accountability.

End of course tests mean much less wrt accountability, especially if there is not a State-wide common test.

This is a defeat for educational excellence.


35 posted on 05/17/2007 4:05:36 AM PDT by WOSG (The 4-fold path to save America - Think right, act right, speak right, vote right!)
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