"NCLB: The Implausible Dream"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jim Huggins <jhuggins () kettering edu>
Date: June 13, 2005 9:47:05 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Cc: Ip ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: "NCLB: The Implausible Dream"


On Sat, 11 Jun 2005, David Farber wrote:


> NCLB's implausible dream


> Jennifer Wilmetti
> PERSPECTIVE


> [...]


> In Wyoming, none of the mandated tests are used to hold students
> accountable. Students learn this very quickly and fail to take these
> tests seriously. A couple of years ago, I was speaking with a class  
> that
> included the valedictorian at our high school about the WyCAS test.  
> When
> asked, the students, including the valedictorian, said that they  
> hadn't
> taken the test seriously! If this young man, who was obviously bright
> and driven, didn't take it seriously, how many students did? And yet,
> this is one of the measures of whether we as teachers are doing our  
> job
> or not!

In Michigan, the tests (at least at the high school level) are taken  
more
seriously, for a simple reason.  If you pass all the tests (including
those at the junior high level), you get a $3000 scholarship to any
Michigan university, public or private.  (It's $1000 if you go
out-of-state.)

Now, this program isn't without its own problems.  It's entirely
self-funded by the state of Michigan, so it's an easy target for budget
cutting.  (The original funding came from the tobacco settlement;  it's
obviously long gone by now.)  Already, the award is payable in two  
annual
installments (if you drop out after your freshman year, you lose one).
And beginning next year, you also have to perform 40 hours of community
service during your high school career.

But, lo and behold, students are taking the tests seriously now.  You  
get
the behavior you reward.  (Didn't Pavlov tell us something about that?)

--Jim Huggins


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