-> "Though the story questioned the academic qualifications of some of
-> those who did not pass the CBEST, many graduates of "elite"
-> universities have failed it.
-> For example, in the 1991-92 school year, 11 percent of the 749
-> graduates of the
-> University of California at Berkeley who took the test for the first
-> time did not pass.  Is it really plausible that Berkeley graduated
-> more than 75 students
-> who cannot perform at what the state claims is merely a 10th grade
-> level?"
I think this certainly IS possible. Of course, one has to realize that
the math portion is (or at least, at one time _was_) fairly specialized.
It would be to our students benefit, however, if even non-math teachers
had a good understanding of math, so that they could discuss surveys and
trends intelligently within their subject area.
What is so alarming about a number of the persons who do not pass, is
that they cannot pass the _writing_ portion of the exam.
-> one section on lighthouses, for example, is criticized as being
-> culturally biased (not many lighthouses in inner-city ghettos) and
-> another reading selection on fruit juices is criticized for being
-> more of a question of logic than of reading skills.  Monty supports
-> his contention that the CBEST is culturally biased by reporting on
-> some studies done by the Educational Testing Service (the company
-> which wrote the CBEST) in the 1970's in which they were able to
-> produce tests on which minority candidates scored higher than whites.
This is entirely possible. I wouldn't be surprised in the least that the
exam is culturally biased. I think it is very difficult to write an exam
that is in no way culturally biased.
-> Monty further criticizes the CBEST for its difficult math questions
-> and it's poor selection of writing topics.  He felt that both were
-> irrelevant to most of
-> the test takers and the time restraints may cause undue pressure.
The writing topics that I have seen (while few) should have been
relevant to any educated person. For instance, they ask you to describe
some memorable event from your childhood, or they give a political
statement and ask you to agree with or disagree with it and support your
point of view.
While I imagine that Monty Niel has a good point that the exam is
biased, I think he may be reaching for some of his objections in order
to make his list of objections longer.
-> But reducing the definition of high-quality to the ability to pass a
-> test does not protect or serve the public interest; it merely
-> perpetuates the latest excuse for racial exclusion - that test scores
-> equal merit."
This statement does bear some thought.
Sheila
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