Barbara Lickness wrote: > The Whittier Community School for the Arts finished at > the bottom of the heap in test scores last year. I > haven't read the questions on the tests but I imagine > that they have been constructed with the usual > cultural influences...."Nancy was at her parents > cabin. The dock was in the water. How long was the > dock?"
This is probably an incorrect assumption. Test designers are well aware of cultural biases and they attempt to limit types of questions that would influence test results. No test is going to be culture free, we live in a society and its norms and references are going to be reflected in any achievement test. > I will follow the results of this big gift closely. A > small fraction of those funds could make a MAJOR > impact and believe me the Leadership Council could > derive a plan to use every cent of it in a way that > would make a difference. If these funds don't make a > measurable impact on the kids at Whittier than it is > nothing more than "politics as usual". For the sake > of the kids at Whittier, I hope I get proven wrong. I hope that this grant has an impact, but if history is any judge whatever effect there is is likely to be minimal. What the article didn't cover was what teachers will be taught, which is the critical factor. Teaching them basic Christian ethics or Transindental Meditation is not likely to have much effect. What is critically important is that they record data and study what factors are influenced by this grant; that way we might be able to avoid wasting another $6.2M again in the future. Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
