Protesters Call High School Exit Exam 'Racist' (Critics Say Tests Are Biased Toward Whites, Asians)

NBC - 4 ^ | February 26, 2003

[Michael2001]

LOS ANGELES -- Demonstrators urged the Los Angeles school board Tuesday to reconsider the use of tests they say are racist and unfair to blacks and Latinos.

Some people believe the California High School Exit Exam and other standardized tests are culturally biased toward whites and Asians.

"We are concerned about the racist tests that are going on in the schools today," said Paige Leven of the Coalition for Educational Justice.

The demonstration was timed to coincide with proposal from school board members Genethia Hudley Hayes, who is black, and Jose Huizar, who is of Latino descent. They want state officials to explore the "legal, financial and policy implications of establishing a moratorium on the high stakes consequences of the (high school exit exam)."

At the same time, Hayes and Huizar want to continue using results from the exit exam as a "diagnostic tool."

Whites and students of Asian descent typically score better than blacks and Latinos on standardized tests. Huizar said the gap was at least a "20-25 percent disparity."

Last spring, the school board voted 4-1 to consider alternatives to the Stanford 9 and high school exit exam after Hayes and Huizar suggested the tests were biased against nonwhites from poor families.

But Superintendent Roy Romer said the two tests are required by state law.

Tuesday, Hayes and Huizar proposed that the district consider adopting or expanding "alternative or interim assessments to improve the quality of information available to individual classroom teachers."

The alternatives would include "language arts performance assignments" for grades 2-9 and quarterly assessments in math.

Hayes and Huizar also want to create a task force to devise an "Opportunity to Learn Index that would provide public information on ... students' equitable access to tools, resources and materials that inform the educational conditions under which they are assessed."

Demonstrators said many inner-city students were disadvantaged.

"We have very little funds. We have very little books," said Victor Banuelos, an 11th-grade student at Los Angeles High School.

Hayes said she was concerned that the district was considering offering two kinds of high school diplomas -- one saying the student passed the exit exam, and the other saying he or she did not.

The school board will vote on the Hayes-Huizar proposal in two weeks.

[txdoda]

We have very little books," said Victor Banuelos, an 11th-grade student at Los Angeles High School.>>>>>>>

Yes, and a few MILLION illegals sucking up the CA tax dollars recieving FREE health care, child care, welfare,
etc, etc, etc......

Secure US borders, and start taking care of citizens and
those who CHOOSE to immigrate here LEGALLY.....

btw....no wonder this hispanic 11th grader can't pass a exit exam........he has "very little books".......gee, if
he had "bigger books" could he pass ???

[NYCVirago]

For instance, the influential Standard Achievement Test (SAT) requires students to be familiar with terms like "conservatory" and "regatta."

Thanks for posting that example. I was waiting for somebody to post about the word "regatta." IIRC, that word hasn't been on the SAT for at least a decade, precisely because minority groups complained about it.

[ladylib]

Good answer. Unfortunately, it's not possible anymore (multiculturism).

[Atlas Sneezed]

Why They Really Hate the SAT
by Steve Sailer
Published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, 5/2/91, 800 words

"...the Associated Press, Newsweek, USA Today, the Boston Globe, and others recently reported that the SAT quizzes students on "regatta," by implication a word known mostly by white, male yacht owners. That "regatta" question, in fact, was scuttled back during the Ford Administration. All questions since have been pretested for bias...."

http://www.isteve.com/sat_test.htm

[BSunday]

symbol crash ! LMAO

[Attillathehon]

"We have very little books."

I insist they be givin larger books immediately.

LOL

[Bahbah]

It would be better if I appeared to know how to spell "given". :-)

[San Jacinto]

...meanwhile innocent black and latino bunnies, kittens, and harp seals are being runover by white SUVs everyday!

Women and Minorities Hardest Hit!

[BSunday]

It would be better if I appeared to know how to spell "given". :-)

that's okay, your post was probably racist against whatever race you are. and since i am a white male i am going to flaunt capitalization rules in this post, and quite possibly i can misspell capitalization with impunity, since the cards are stacked in my favor.

[BSunday]

Another good one! Don't "mis" it

[demosthenes the elder]

what, this rubbish AGAIN???
wasn't this topic brought up some months ago?

[HardStarboard]

These tests are racist because they ask questions based on the knowledge required to make a living in this free society.

Some people obviously think thats unfair - that questions should be pointed on how to live off the state.

Don't count on the National Education Assoc. (NEA) to try to bridge this hugh series cultural gap.

[antaresequity]

Let them come up with any test they want [opponents to testing]...whites and asians will consistently score better on anything they throw at them...because the opponents focus on the results of tests, instead of reasonable measures of achievment.
Losers

[HIDEK6]

For instance, the influential Standard Achievement Test (SAT)...

I thought SAT was bureaucratese for "Scholastic Achievement Test".

[ladylib]

Have you heard about the NY Regents tests? Students were supposed to answer a series of questions regarding Hemingway's "The Elderly Man and the Sea."

[madfly]

topetón a la tapa

[theDentist]

"We have very little funds. We have very little books," said Victor Banuelos, an 11th-grade student

You have very little initiative. You have very little discipline. You have a big surprise coming to you after high school.

[jonathanmo]

I remember in the late 70s / early 80s when they were cleaning up the "white" words...regatta & yacht & the like...of course, I've never been involved with a regatta or on a yacht...holy cow! I was discriminated against and didn't even know it!