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Lowering ACT scores are a direct result of embracing equality. Equality in of itself is a noble pursuit. But when the rubber hits the road, there is no way equality can be achieved without marginalizing the top performers. The pursuit of equality really creates a crab pot mentality in which the smart kids are demonized and neglected. All of a sudden, advanced calculus is done away with because it's deemed racist and elitist. The net result is we become comfortable and even encourage mediocracy.
Whether or not this was the desired outcome, it's happening and naturally ACT scores suffer.
Lowering ACT scores are a direct result of embracing equality. Equality in of itself is a noble pursuit. But when the rubber hits the road, there is no way equality can be achieved without marginalizing the top performers. The pursuit of equality really creates a crab pot mentality in which the smart kids are demonized and neglected. All of a sudden, advanced calculus is done away with because it's deemed racist and elitist. The net result is we become comfortable and even encourage mediocracy.
Whether or not this was the desired outcome, it's happening and naturally ACT scores suffer.
Knowledge of calculus isn't tested on the ACT, and it just barely tests a student's knowledge of trigonometry. The content of the 60-question math section is as follows:
[LIST][*]Pre-Algebra (20-25%)[*]Elementary Algebra (15-20%)[*]Intermediate Algebra (15-20%)[*]Coordinate Geometry (15-20%)[*]Plane Geometry (20-25%)[*]Trigonometry (5-10%)[/LIST]
Knowledge of calculus isn't tested on the ACT, and it just barely tests a student's knowledge of trigonometry. The content of the 60-question math section is as follows:
Pre-Algebra (20-25%)
Elementary Algebra (15-20%)
Intermediate Algebra (15-20%)
Coordinate Geometry (15-20%)
Plane Geometry (20-25%)
Trigonometry (5-10%)
It was just an example. Could have used advanced basket weaving instead.
I don't know what it was, but it wasn't just closures, because states that did not close schools had similar drops in scores to those that did.
Yes our state of Victoria had the highest average scores, as usual, despite having the longest school closures and general restrictions. Tasmania, as usual, was the lowest scoring of the states (NT not being a state) and they suffered a lockdown of all of three days last year.
The main concern seems to be the reading scores of Year 9 boys and the fact that overall, boys by that age are well behind girls.
Yes our state of Victoria had the highest average scores, as usual, despite having the longest school closures and general restrictions. Tasmania, as usual, was the lowest scoring of the states (NT not being a state) and they suffered a lockdown of all of three days last year.
The main concern seems to be the reading scores of Year 9 boys and the fact that overall, boys by that age are well behind girls.
Even if there is no lockdown, kids are sent home way more often when they are sick. There is a lot more absenteeism, which results in learning losses.
Lowering ACT scores are a direct result of embracing equality. Equality in of itself is a noble pursuit. But when the rubber hits the road, there is no way equality can be achieved without marginalizing the top performers. The pursuit of equality really creates a crab pot mentality in which the smart kids are demonized and neglected. All of a sudden, advanced calculus is done away with because it's deemed racist and elitist. The net result is we become comfortable and even encourage mediocracy.
Whether or not this was the desired outcome, it's happening and naturally ACT scores suffer.
I don't think that's true. Kids are grouped together for the most part in classes like this, for instance advanced placement classes for the kids who have better aptitude for sciences, etc. I think it's more about parents now having fits if their child gets a C, so they have made things easier for that reason, not for equality reasons. Most schools are kind of segregated along those lines anyway, there are few schools where there are both inner city kids and kids from well off suburbs.
Students at NYU got a professor fired because 85 of 300-some students failed and wrote a letter saying the class was "too hard". THAT is the reason things have been dumbed down, parents who fight teachers for giving lesser grades and their kids who grow up feeling entitled to pass any class they pay for.
Lowering ACT scores are a direct result of embracing equality. Equality in of itself is a noble pursuit. But when the rubber hits the road, there is no way equality can be achieved without marginalizing the top performers. The pursuit of equality really creates a crab pot mentality in which the smart kids are demonized and neglected. All of a sudden, advanced calculus is done away with because it's deemed racist and elitist. The net result is we become comfortable and even encourage mediocracy.
Whether or not this was the desired outcome, it's happening and naturally ACT scores suffer.
This presumes only White kids are taking advanced calc. And what about all the White kids who opt outof advanced calc, and barely survived intro-level calc? This mentality you're describing is exactly why schools in Sweden and Russia don't allow programs for gifted kids. It's also behind the policy of waiting until kids reach 7 years of age before admitting them to first grade. They wait for the stragglers in terms of brain development and readiness, so that everyone's at the same level.
There's not much correlation between Covid policy and test scores. They were down everywhere.
The stress of Covid appears to have caused the drops.
The issue is that it isn’t just about remote learning, but if you can actually attend school. I would imagine that previously, the average kid didn’t miss a lot of school due to the normal colds. More recently, when school was in session, anytime a kid got sick, they had to take a COVID test, wait a few days, and be approved by a doctor to return. The typical turnaround for that was at least 2-3 days. A friend told me that even if a child has diagnosed allergies or menstrual symptoms, it doesn’t matter. The kid was sent home. So a girl with some minor cramps due to PMS or a menstrual migraine would be sent home for the day. I was allergic to my bed and had a runny nose every, single, day. I imagine I would have never been allowed in school. This is incredibly disruptive.
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