RM> I think that students would be more motivated to take the
 RM> best courses, rather than simply worrying about grades.. 
Hmmm, so there is a list of the "best" courses? Just wondering.
 RM> Somewhere along the line, we have to decide what it is that
 RM> we want students to know (or know how to do), and test for
 RM> those things.
Why don't we make sure that the majority can pass this test?
CB>Are you sure that the testing that is done in your state 
CB>increases the quality of graduates?  Test scores in several 
CB>different national tests have been rising slowly over the 
CB>past 10-15 years. Maybe the scores are due to some other 
CB>factor.
 RM> Sure?  No, can't say I'm sure, but NY has a pretty good 
 RM> track record; especially considering the population density
 RM> and poverty levels within the state.  For a state which is
 RM> close to 50% urban population, our kids fare pretty well in
 RM> comparisons with other states...
Great--but then the scores your students are achieving are not due to the 
test being there, they are due to the education they have received, no?
--- Maximus 2.02
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