>--- Kevin Tarr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >This sounds like one of the stupidest things I've ever >> >heard, and one of my CO collegues with 20 years in >> >speech therapy/special education commented (when I >> >asked if this was true): "It is not only true, it is >> >actually worse than this. Students who are in a >> >persistant vegetative state have been required to take >> >the test from time to time, students who do not yet >> >speak English, students with severe emotional >> >disorders, physical problems, etc. It is >> >absolutely absurd."
I might have missed the post that started this, but will try and pitch in on some of this. I know of some individuals who are regularly assessed for their status/learning ability. Most of these people are institutionalized and often were assumed to lack intellectual ability since traditional test methods did not meet their needs (ie if someone had spastic hands and could not control a pencil they could not take conventional IQ tests and were labeled as severely retarded when in reality less "standardized" testing revealed functioning intellect). As new test methods are understood they are better utilized. I have seen some "assistive technology" used to help test "students" (under 21), but this was part of specialized IEP (individual education plan, IIRC). Early in the move for "end of grade" testing, many "special needs" students were exempted from testing by the schools (to raise apparent test scores) and improve financial rewards to the schools. This led the pendulum to swing the "other way" where all students must be tested so schools don't label kids to artificially cull results. This situation would be my guess why some bizarre test situations might exist. Some group has good intentions in "leveling the playing field", but there are ludicrous applications. Dee _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
