Comments on: My high blood pressure and test scores: The connection is not what you’d think

By: Montclair Parent

Montclair Parent — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:07:59 +0000

Incredibly interesting information and exploration of this subject – what the most valuable skills and talents will be in future business for our children in Daniel Pink’s book “A Whole New Mind” from a few years ago reached exactly this same conclusion – especially as many American jobs are outsourced that creativity and “high touch” skills will be the most valued and crucial for our country to continue to compete in a global economy.

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:38:45 +0000

More and more colleges and universities are SAT/ACT test optional; currently, the number of schools is 840 and growing. (See list at fairtest.org.) Schools are finding that high school GPA, rigorous courseload, and class rank can also predict success in higher education.

Education in the U.S. is subject to fads. Maybe this is due to the American spirit of innovation. Currently, it is testing/*accountability* and charter schools in K-12, and less dependence on standardized test for college entrance.

At the same time, America has an underlying ethos of meritocracy and that we are a land of opportunity. How does this play out in policy and practice? Currently, the policy goal seems to be to prepare *everybody* for college. As Nextset frequently points out, a portion of the population will never be college material, so they are being set up for failure because they are not being vocationally prepared either. At the same time, if we make forks in the (college bound) road, particularly early ones, it seems we would be losing late bloomers and bright but misidentified youngsters such as those with vision problems or ADD.

But college or not, we still need to make sure all our students are functionally literate and understand basic math. As shown by recent history, this country needs a populace that understands compound interest, adjustable rates, etc., and we aren’t there yet, in California or elsewhere.

By: oakey

oakey — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:07:37 +0000

Maybe testing is your whipping boy. But we’ve had SAT’s since the 1930′s (and it was specifically introduced to make college entrance meritorious instead of an old boy’s network, excluding minorities). The problem being ignored is real reform of the teaching profession. And not a word about that problem in the article or in the comments. Arne Duncan is trying to do something about that, ergo the snide aside mentioning him. California will fall further and further behind if we are incapable of doing something about that. Of course, it’s only dysfunctional districts like OUSD where the reform is really needed. Badly.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 05:06:49 +0000

Steven:

You’re still on medication – a different medication – because you are still ill – or your body is not functioning as well as it could to give you the best long life possible.

We need to figure out a new medicine for our children in Oakland that combines a willingness to teach, a longing to learn, the ability of teacher and student to be creative and a way to make sure that the students coming from our Oakland schools are equipped to have the best, long life possible. This includes a way for them to give back to the city to make it stronger creatively, financially, and scholastically.

The current testing method, teaching methods and school set up is not working. We need to work as a community to find a way to make the new prescription serve the needs of the students ingesting the learning.

By: Hot R

Hot R — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:15:49 +0000

I agree Steven. America has always been know for its creativity. While nations like China ramp up their high stakes testing, when the earthquake hits, their poorly engineered buildings which cut every corner due to corruption and graft fall down. The milk is tainted, and the toys are full of lead. We should not trade creativity for high test scores.

But don’t ignore the fact that the underclass deserves an education too, and that the fact that a testing atmosphere may stifle creativity does not mean that those students do not deserve a fighting chance in life. Creativity is bred in our genes, and cannot be exorcised by testing no matter what Arne Duncan does.

By: maestra

maestra — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:12:05 +0000

Thanks, Steven, for that insight. You explained it in the way I’ve been trying to!

By: Nextset

Nextset — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:38:46 +0000

An interesting point on the way the meds work and the results.

The desired result of our education policy is to produce adults well placed in the economy. At least with options open for them.

I’m afraid OUSD produces too many unemployable adults who are poor criminals also. Life of poverty, early disability followed by early grave. But politically correct.