Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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Do you think it's possible that the same kids who did logic puzzles as kids had/have a better natural ability at solving them - and therefore enjoyed doing them more than those who struggled with them?

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Who knows. I would have never even been exposed to them had it not been for my ARC classes.

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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I think the problem is much more widespread and deep-rooted than standardized tests.

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I agree. Reliance on and teaching to standardized tests is merely the symptom of a broken system.

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what standardized tests are you reffering to? All of them or specific ones?

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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I think the problem is much more widespread and deep-rooted than standardized tests.

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I agree. Reliance on and teaching to standardized tests is merely the symptom of a broken system.

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what standardized tests are you reffering to? All of them or specific ones?

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I'm not sure if this is directed at myself, misfire, or both of us. I am referring to standardized tests in general, but most specifically MCAS testing which is exclusive to Massachusetts public schools. Many teachers have altered their entire teaching curriculum to improve MCAS scores - as opposed to actually teaching useful information to students. MCAS preparation seemed much more pervasive in all classes than SATs prep or other standardized tests.

Regardless, I think there are other major factors that prevent students from being fully prepared for college, or life in general.

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

Ok - because I actually have no problem with AP tests. Although they are standized tests, I feel the AP program in general is highly valuable

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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2. I had initially tried to help a different high school. The principal told me that the school had 6 students taking the exam. He was hoping to get one of them to score a 3. When I said that I expected that (with proper training) at least 1 of 6 would score a 5, and that at least 4/6 would pass (with a 3 or better), he told me that I was crazy and had horribly unrealistic expectations, that students at his school just don't do well on those exams. No one from that school ever called me or returned my calls to set up meeting times (which amounted to free tutoring).


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That is pretty damn sad.

If I recall correctly, in my HS AP Physics B class, I think we had about:

-14-16 5's
-3-4 4's
-1-2 3's

And no 2's (nobody in the history of the program ever got a 2 or 1)

The school achieved these results due to the efforts of a highly dedicated & enthusiastic teacher.

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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If I recall correctly, in my HS AP Physics B class, I think we had about:

-14-16 5's
-3-4 4's
-1-2 3's

And no 2's (nobody in the history of the program ever got a 2 or 1)

The school achieved these results due to the efforts of a highly dedicated & enthusiastic teacher.

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The school to which I referred above was urban, underfunded, and in a poor neighborhood. Moreover, the city's school system as a whole is in terrible shape. They got passing AP Calc scores every few years. It had a great football team though...

Re: NY Times article about lack of readiness for college
 

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I think the problem is much more widespread and deep-rooted than standardized tests.

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I agree. Reliance on and teaching to standardized tests is merely the symptom of a broken system.

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what standardized tests are you reffering to? All of them or specific ones?

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I was referring mostly to tests used for state/federal funding, graduation, and/or college admission. My father teaches high school, and is really upset at the pressure to teach to the tests so the school can meet the NCLB requirements.