Re: Internecine Testing Industry Warfare - 1,044

[ShopMathEdu@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/7/2003 5:43:29 AM Central Standard Time, 
rparkany@borg.com writes:

> From what I've seen from the *American Scene*, SUVs, Club-Med, Summer 
> Homes...is the average
> American Family any BETTER at managing resources???
> 

Dear ARN Folks:

While we agree on so much, I regret emphasizing where we diverge.  However, I 
don't recognize the "American Scene" in the description above.

I have the honor of working at the World of Opportunity (WOO) educational 
program which is located in one of the most economically devastated areas of 
Birmingham, Alabama (though not so untypical of other large city 
neighborhoods across this land).  

SUV's occasionally speed past.  We know of a type of med-club......the 
medicine one takes after receiving a blow from the end of a club.  I suppose 
our version of a summer home is where you go after losing utility services 
from tough cold stout winters with accompanying out of this world gas bills.  
You see, the government in this neck of the woods has passed laws which 
require that public housing residents can be evicted if their utilities are 
disconnected.  In other words, "If you are wounded, then we will shoot you.  
You can go somewhere else to be buried"   In our community many of the 
"average" families and our "average" students exercise remarkable discipline, 
perseverance, and wisdom to manage a life and some smiles out of no resources 
at all.

When we paint a picture of "America," let's paint the whole picture.

That's the whole problem with standards.  Whose standards?  It's not just the 
test, but the standards behind the test, which sorts folks out and casts poor 
and working class kids away.  The "assessment" is the outward symbol of the 
problem.  We need to begin focusing on the inhumane "standards" behind the 
assessment.

Warmest peacebuilding greetings to one and all,

Steve Orel (READ MORE BELOW PLEASE)
World of Opportunity (WOO)
Birmingham, Alabama

p.s.:  Yesterday, the WOO enrolled the 1,044th student since we opened in 
September, 2000.  That means that we have now worked with twice as many kids 
as the schools pushed out (522) to raise SAT-9 test scores in the Spring of 
2,000.

For more information, please check out our website:
 <A HREF="http://school.al.com/school/worldofopportunity";>World of Opportunity</A>
<A HREF="http://school.al.com/school/worldofopportunity";>http://school.al.com/school/worldofopportunity</A>