No Mas

["Sherman Dorn" <sdorn@tempest.coedu.usf.edu>]

Art Burke wrote:
 
> As if 9 year-olds themselves can't tell if they know their multiplication 
> tables and as if making decisions about the proficiency of school children

> is a problem in unlocking the secrets of the universe.

I'll just note that this comes from someone who thinks we can't ask
9-year-olds themselves (because we must test them) and who obviously can't
meet the challenge I posed. Or let me put it this way: you pick the state
test and grade level. We'll take the state self-identification of
proficiency, since you're satisfied with that delegation. Then please tell
me what a child who has that score can do.  Concretely.  In front of you or
me.  Then show me the technical documentation for that generalization.

The point is you can't. Tests are designed for gradations, not finite
classifications. 

Sherman Dorn