More "dumbing down" for Americans

[audtatious]

Oregon is moving its 10th-grade tests in reading, writing, math and science to the 11th grade, saying many students need another year of high school to learn the skills covered on the tests.

The tests were written for sophomores, and the minimum passing scores were set based on how sophomores performed on the tests. But, beginning next school year, they will be given to juniors, and the state's high schools will be judged by how many of their students pass the exams by the end of junior year.

Oregon got permission from the U.S. Department of Education to make the standard easier for schools.

When Oregon sophomores take the tests, a lot of them fail, particularly in math. Last year, 46 percent of 10th-graders flunked that test, 45 percent failed the writing test and 42 percent failed in science.

Low passing rates on the state reading and math tests are the main reason that Oregon high schools get worse ratings on state and federal accountability reports than the state's elementary and middle schools.

Educators are hopeful that, with another year of instruction under their belts, more high schools students will be able to pass.

The testing window now in place for sophomores runs from October through mid-May, meaning they must take the exam "when there are still at least four weeks of instruction left in their sophomore year," says McMinnville High principal Kris Olsen. "We want to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to be exposed to all of the 10th-grade curriculum before they have to take this test."

Most schools will continue to give the tests to sophomores, then focus on helping those who fail to learn the missing skills before retesting them as juniors, Olsen said.

Jack Jennings, president of the non-profit Washington, D.C.-based Center on Education Policy, has tracked how states have changed their testing programs since the 2001 passage of the federal No Child Left Behind law, which increased accountability and sanctions for schools that post low test scores. Some states lowered the scores a student needs to pass the state test to help schools avoid low ratings.

Jennings could not recall another state moving its high school exams to a higher grade, and said it suggests Oregon may be lowering its expectations for its schools or its students.

"It does seem unusual to move a 10th-grade proficiency set of tests to the 11th grade," he said. "If you thought 10th-graders could do something, and then you shift the measurement of that skill to 11th grade, it at least raises the question of whether they have lowered the standard."

Schools will still be able to give the tests to sophomores, and those that pass won't have to retest as juniors, said Susanne Smith, communications manager for the Oregon Department of Education. But all students who have not passed before junior year will have to take the exams that year, and schools will be judged according to how many of their students pass by the end of junior year.

Students have always been permitted to retake state tests as juniors if they failed them as sophomores. But most students did not do so, state officials say. Of roughly 25,000 sophomores who failed at least one test, about 6,000 retook the math test and about 2,000 retook the reading tests as juniors, according to Jon Wiens, accountability specialist at the state education department.

The Oregon Board of Education decided several years ago that, beginning with this year's sophomores, students will have to pass the state reading test to get a high school diploma. This year's freshmen will have to pass the state writing test, too. And today's eighth graders will have to pass in reading, writing and math to get their diplomas.

Smith, the department spokeswoman, said the state is not lowering the standards on any of the tests, it is merely giving schools and students more time before the results count.

"The ultimate goal," she said, "is to get those kids ready to graduate."

http://www.oregonlive.com/educ....html

[Razi]

If students are having problems passing a test, maybe the standards aren't too high, maybe they just suck at teaching.I wonder if they ever thought of that.

[numbnuts240]

whatever happened to repeating a grade if you couldn't pass it successfully? this is hurting the children more than benefiting them. all it's teaching them is that if they fail at something, it's ok, because they'll always get another chance. sorry, the real world doesn't work that way. it's s*** like this that makes me afraid to have kids.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Private school and homeschooling on the side is looking better and better...

[audtatious]

We should just give them a diploma for attending school. Kinda like everyone should receive a winning trophy for playing in little league. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings do we?

[numbnuts240]

We should just give them a diploma for attending school. Kinda like everyone should receive a winning trophy for playing in little league. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings do we?

might as well, it seems like we're heading that way anyhow

[Solar_Runner]

whatever happened to repeating a grade if you couldn't pass it successfully? this is hurting the children more than benefiting them. all it's teaching them is that if they fail at something, it's ok, because they'll always get another chance. sorry, the real world doesn't work that way. it's s*** like this that makes me afraid to have kids.

That, my friend, is called No Child Left Behind.

I know parents that WANT their kids to repeat a grade and the dang school district will not let them. That would impact the schools ratings and thereby impact their funding.

Pretty sad, huh?

[dusred]

Private school and homeschooling on the side is looking better and better...

[Dattebayo]

I can't understand anyone who can't pass school (other than a medical reason). It's not like the bar is set that high to begin with, and I attended in one of the supposedly best public school districts in the nation...

[numbnuts240]

That, my friend, is called No Child Left Behind.

i know that's what it is, it's just f***ing stupid. i'd like to meet the people that originally proposed it and lobbied for it's passing, and kick them all in the nads. they've effectively damned our future.

[snwbrdr435]

^ Agreedededed

The education system in our Nation is a joke.

[nissangirl74]

If students are having problems passing a test, maybe the standards aren't too high, maybe they just suck at teaching.I wonder if they ever thought of that.

Half of them suck and the other half doesn't care. Not a good combination.

I know parents that WANT their kids to repeat a grade and the dang school district will not let them. That would impact the schools ratings and thereby impact their funding. Pretty sad, huh?

Very. However, if the kids are flunking the tests, that impacts funding too so it is a lose / lose situation.

i know that's what it is, it's just f***ing stupid. i'd like to meet the people that originally proposed it and lobbied for it's passing, and kick them all in the nads. they've effectively damned our future.

My daughter struggled all last year (8th grade) and I was worried that when she moved out here that she wouldn't be able to keep up because of the higher level of teaching here vs. Tennessee. When I mentioned it to her counselor here, she tells me, "Well, she meets the age requirement for her freshman year, so she will go in as a freshman, REGARDLESS. If she needs extra help, we'll get it for her." No surprise, she has struggled all this year and the help has been minimal at best, and only when I make a bunch of phone calls.

I can't understand anyone who can't pass school (other than a medical reason). It's not like the bar is set that high to begin with, and I attended in one of the supposedly best public school districts in the nation...

It happens. You take a kid who doesn't like school to begin with and combine that with comprehension issues...not a good result.

[RobPaulson]

i really... really REALLY hate people who blame teachers for this.

you know as a teacher, you are pressured and forced to follow specific curriculum to teach the kids how to pass this test, right? The teachers themselves have about 15% freedom within their lesson plans to be creative and actually teach the way they should be teaching.

we need to cut off all this bulls*** standardized testing and educate these kids on the proper material, not 'how to pass the test'. 'No child left behind' is a pathetic and over simplistic way to attempt to quantify a child's education and assess the educators working with them. it is by far the absolute worst thing that has happened to the youth in this country, ever.

[Red coupe]

I can't understand anyone who can't pass school (other than a medical reason). It's not like the bar is set that high to begin with, and I attended in one of the supposedly best public school districts in the nation...

It really is true.

The highschool I went to really had the opportunity for you to learn a lot...

But to just pass and graduate is barely took attending, let alone effort.The only kids who don't pass are the ones who literally work to not pass.

[audtatious]

That, my friend, is called No Child Left Behind.

I know parents that WANT their kids to repeat a grade and the dang school district will not let them. That would impact the schools ratings and thereby impact their funding.

Pretty sad, huh?

There's more to it than simply blaming No Child Left Behind. Budgets are impacted based on achievement which further presses forth a school system or state to have higher achievement scores. School systems are penalized as well if they have an above average number of students needing help. I've run into this with my step daughter who has ADD and is somewhat dyslexic as she struggles and the school does not want to do much about it due to penalties.

IMO, schools should get back to the three R's as a basis and teach History and SS as they have been.

[nissangirl74]

i really... really REALLY hate people who blame teachers for this

I apologize. I shouldn't have split the population in equal halves. I have, however, met teachers that have the mindset, "You either get it or you don't. I don't have time to explain it to you. If you don't understand it, ask your parents when you are working on your homework."

[seang]

Thank God that Audtatious exists. He recognizes and brings this stuff up. The f***ing whistleblower! Hell yeah. I have been reading about this s*** a little and I guess it's true.

[audtatious]

Tell you one thing, the next time they force the class to watch An Inconvenient Truth I'm going to explode.....

[Razi]

I had to watch that crap in high school once.Don't remember one bit of it, cause I was asleep half the time.

[audtatious]

It's like a religion......Thought religion was not supposed to be taught?

[seang]

I have been reading about this s*** a little and I guess it's true.

Here is thee article. I randumbly came across it a few months back and added it to my favorites just for fewtchur reference. This thread reminded me uv it. http://www.deliberatedumbingdo...k.htm

[RCA]

Parents are both full-time workers in our society and the TV is responsible for raising kids. With networks saturated with shows like Jersey Shore and Flavor of Love etc, you can't act like you couldn't see it happening.

Kids will learn if they are interested. Kids spend time watching TV, make kids watch interesting things on TV. More Nova and less My Sweet 16 and in time our kids will regain their intelligence.

[sentrastace]

i know people who have graduated from high school who are basically illiterate. this just makes it worse.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

It's funny that you bring up this topic. On the local news last night they were talking about how a lot of HS' in the country are beginning to adopt a different perspective by allowing certain students in a special program to graduate upon completion of the 10th grade, which has a lot of people in a hissy b/c even though you may be smart enough to graduate at that age you're still not mentally, physically, and emotionally mature enough to start college at that age. Certain schools in PA are looking at participating in this program starting next year.

As far as moving the CAT testing from 10th to 11th grade that's just stupid. I don't understand how schools systems are having such a hard time, I mean yeah the teachers have to work with garbage text books and materials, but in the end it all comes down to core of what really is wrong with this country, that being that it all boils down to piss poor parenting. This country doesn't need more homeschooling, that's the epitome of coddling your effing children, what this country needs is for parents to man the F up and start beating and disciplining their children. Make them work for things they want, make them understand the value of respect, common courtesy and teach them that school is probably the most important they can do.

Discipline, self respect, respect of elders, and the value of a dollar along with a strict value of education is what is going to bring this country out of the stupidity that it has become. If we can get our children in check, stop with this whole lets pussify everything we'll finely be back on track. /RANT

[numbnuts240]

[Jesda]

IT HAS THE ELECTROLYTES PLANTS LOVE!

[frapjap]

As far as moving the CAT testing from 10th to 11th grade that's just stupid. I don't understand how schools systems are having such a hard time, I mean yeah the teachers have to work with garbage text books and materials, but in the end it all comes down to core of what really is wrong with this country, that being that it all boils down to piss poor parenting. This country doesn't need more homeschooling, that's the epitome of coddling your effing children, what this country needs is for parents to man the F up and start beating and disciplining their children. Make them work for things they want, make them understand the value of respect, common courtesy and teach them that school is probably the most important they can do.

Discipline, self respect, respect of elders, and the value of a dollar along with a strict value of education is what is going to bring this country out of the stupidity that it has become. If we can get our children in check, stop with this whole lets pussify everything we'll finely be back on track. /RANT

Right on. There are WAY to many kids who fear next to nothing because they've gone this far in life without anyone to answer to and no consequences for their actions. I know my grandpa used to tell me I had it easy growing up, as well as my mom- but man, the things these kids are just handed is absurd.

I may just be another disgruntled person about this issue, but I like to look at it this way- it took 35+ years for my grandpa to tell me I had it easy in comparison, but I haven't even been on the planet that long; and if I'm already seeing these changes and forming this opinion, then this issue is happening at a much faster rate. I swear, the next real war Americans fight is going to have these sissies calling out sick because of a cough on storm the beach day.

Parenting should happen the old fashioned way- do something wrong, send that kid out to the woods to pick out his whoopin' stick. if he picks the wrong stick and it breaks to quickly, they get to pick out another stick. That teaches lessons and makes you tough. If they laugh at the stick, time for the belt. It shouldn't take that many whacks for them to figure it out and stop acting like fools.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Parenting should happen the old fashioned way- do something wrong, send that kid out to the woods to pick out his whoopin' stick. if he picks the wrong stick and it breaks to quickly, they get to pick out another stick. That teaches lessons and makes you tough. If they laugh at the stick, time for the belt. It shouldn't take that many whacks for them to figure it out and stop acting like fools.

That's what my grandmother did to my sister, my mom just used my stepfather's belt on me. I'm 34 y/o and was brought up in a super strict military family. My mom is the type of person who still jumps in my isht when I F up, I'm sure she'd probably beat my a** if I wasn't so much bigger than her.

I think this best sums up my mom, only instead of shoes it would be here hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

My mom had the go go gadget arm, if you tried to run she'd catch you by the hair, if we were in the car she wouldn't even have to turn around to lay a well placed pimp slap on us. My mom also had the evilest underarm pinch on the planet for when we were in public. If we started to cry she would tell us to stop before she gave us something to cry about. That is what these parents need to do, not this stupid Timeout crap.

I noticed it start to get really bad about 10 years ago when I was in the Army, these punk kids would show up at our unit straight out of BAS/AIT and have absolutely no respect for anyone who didn't have stripes on their shoulder, and even some of them didn't get the respect they were owed b/c they were the cool NCO's who didn't forget where they came from.

Sorry about the threadjack Bean, but I think that the parenting issue goes hand in hand with what Oregon and several other states are having to deal with on the school level.

I blame MTv, between shows like Sweet 16, 16 and Pregnant, and Cribs, and all that Real World/Road Rules crap.

[Loki]

These days parents go to jail for child endangerment just for disciplining their children.

[numbnuts240]

my kids are getting spanked. in the end, they will thank me and will be much better off than all their retarded, coddled peers.