In response to a message to Sheila on ...
CB>Do we get quality graduates? No--testing does not produce 
CB>quality, testing only finds defects.
CB>Will a more exacting test produce high quality students? No.
CB>We can test, test, test all we want and the quality of 
CB>students will not increase.  This will, as W. Edward Deming 
CB>states, "Increase Defects".
CB>If you want, I can prove it with a little exercise.
CB>Texas runs a test dictated curriculum--if it was such a 
CB>great idea, why aren't people examining them.  Why do I 
CB>hear teachers from Texas complain about TAS?  Why do I hear 
CB>charges and counter-charges about cheating, fudging, etc on 
CB>the TAS tests?  
CB>Yuck--I hope they drop the idea of an exit test--won't work.
New York's experience with the Regents Exams suggests otherwise.  
Testing creates accountability - accountability for teachers to 
teach the curriculum and accountability for students to learn the 
curriculum.  Recent studies, after adjusting for income levels and 
parent's education levels, show that New York students outperform 
the national average score on the SAT's by thirty points.
Testing is a waste of time unless it is accompanied by consequences 
- in NY students can't earn the valued Regents diploma without 
taking a program that includes 4-years of Regents level English and 
social studies, 2-years each of Regents level math and science, 
three-years of Regents level foreign language and an additional 
Regents level sequence in two subjects (can be a third year of math 
or science, technology, business, art, music, etc.)
You seem unconvinced that standards and testing can have the desired 
impact on our educational system and I am convinced that it is what 
separates the good schools from the bad.  There is a common bond 
between students and teachers when there is an understanding that 
both are responsible for meeting an external goal.  Talk about 
motivation for working cooperatively - the student's very future is 
at stake.
But, I suspect we will have to agree to disagree on this issue ;-)
Chuck Beams
cbeams@dreamscape.com
http://www.dreamscape.com/cbeams
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* UniQWK #5290* "The welfare of the people is the chief law."  Cicero
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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