Re: Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS

["Arthur Hu" <arthurhu@attbi.com>]

It typically takes 4 years to get through a complete science
course cycle, and that's if you're on a pre-college track.

And that's assuming the test is reasonable enough that a
student that DID complete 4 years worth of science like I
did would pass such a test, and they didn't put college
level stuff into it.

I surprised even 36% would pass the sort of test the
science standards folks expect everybody to know.

-----Original Message-----
From: arn-l-owner@interversity.org
[mailto:arn-l-owner@interversity.org]On Behalf Of Carol Holst
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 1:57 PM
To: arn-l@interversity.org
Subject: Re: [arn-l] Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS


It's interesting the reporter mentions the kids had such a difficult
time with the taks science component. Do you  know why this happened?
Okay, I'll tell you. It's that in the younger grades they were tested in
math, reading, and writing, and were taught how to take tests in these
subjects. Science, what science? If it's not tested it doesn't exist.

Now there's a science exam. Hmm. Another test to teach to. What a
headache...

Carol

On Thursday, June 12, 2003, at 02:48 PM, Arthur Hu wrote:

> It's one thing for a 10th grader to have basic scientific understanding
> and to expect a 5th grader to master college level biology or
> chemistry topics. Again, it's the high standards disconnect. You sell
> "basic literacy", but establish anything but.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arn-l-owner@interversity.org
> [mailto:arn-l-owner@interversity.org]On Behalf Of Karen Canty
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 4:23 PM
> To: arn-l@interversity.org
> Subject: Re: [arn-l] Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS
>
>
> Arthur,
>
> I would think that a high school graduate should have a basic scientific
> understanding - whatever that means - because a lot of those "non
> college graduates" are going to serve on juries and somehow
> understanding DNA evidence would be an important thing, don't you? And
> all the other scientific evidence that is introduced at trials today.
> And please try to stop talking about the "way it used to be..."; fact
> is, it's not the way it used to be - for better or worse....
>
> Karen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arn-l-owner@interversity.org [mailto:arn-l-owner@interversity.org]
> On Behalf Of Arthur Hu
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 4:14 PM
> To: arn-l@interversity.org
> Subject: Re: [arn-l] Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS
>
> Just what is the minimum amount of science all studnets are
> supposd to take these days? Used to be that only the college
> bound kids took the classic biology, physics, and chemistry
> science.
>
> The 5th grade WASL expects kids to be able to construct an
> experiment down to the what size of beaker to use, what
> materials to use, and which variables are to be held constant,
> and interpret the results of an experiment. They are also
> expected to be familiar with potential and kinetic energy,
> what happens if you take a link out of a food web, and
> producers and consumers.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: arn-l-owner@interversity.org
> [mailto:arn-l-owner@interversity.org]On Behalf Of Carol Holst
> Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 2:56 PM
> To: arn-l@interversity.org
> Cc: taasblue@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [arn-l] Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS
>
>
> This may be old news to you, but just in case here you go. Happy reading
> (grumble, gripe, it's all sounding the same, whine, groan, somebody help
> unstick my eyeballs from the back of my head please)!
>
> Carol
> --------------------------
> June 3, 2003, 12:56PM
>
> Only 36 percent of HISD sophomores pass TAKS
> By JO ANN ZUÑIGA
> http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/1935916
>
> Only 36 percent of Houston's 10th graders passed the entire Texas
> Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. The sophomores had the
> toughtest time with the test's science component.
>
> The only bright spot was elementary students who took the
> Spanish-language TAKS and exceeded statewide scores, scoring 93 percent
> in reading.
>
> Some 52 percent of Houston 10th graders passed their TAKS science
> component. Statewide, 69 percent of 10th graders passed science.
>
> Houston Independent School District superintendent Kaye Stripling,
> releasing the scores today, acknowledged that much improvement is needed
> in math and science, but said HISD did better than expected.
>
> "We need to concentrate instructionally, do more hands-on experiments
> and update science labs," Stripling said.
>
> Although that improvement may be difficult during a budget-cutting year,
> Stripling said, "We will find the money."
>
> The State Legislature recently passed a science initiative bill that
> will provide certification for master science teachers and stipends for
> concentration in that subject.
>
> "Our test scores are actually something to be proud of. The TAKS is
> about twice as hard as the TAAS," Stripling said while at Wharton
> Elementary on West Gray where 99 percent of its students passed math and
> 96 percent passed reading.
>
> TAKS, which was introduced this past spring in tests taken in March and
> April, replaced the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.
>
> "TAAS had mostly computation, while TAKS is quite strenuous requiring
> more reading even in the math section as well as conjecture and
> problem-solving," Stripling said.
>
> School board member Esther Campos pointed out that elementary students
> taking the Spanish-language TAKS tested at higher than the statewide
> scores.
>
> Third-grade Spanish TAKS had 93 percent of Houston students pass reading
> compared to 91 percent of state scores. About 85 percent of Houston
> students in Spanish passed math compared to 82 percent statewide.
>
> "I'm very proud that our Spanish-language category surpassed the state
> scores," Campos said.
>
> About 20 percent of HISD students took the TAKS in Spanish.
>
> Jacel Morgan, assistant superintendent of Houston's multilingual
> department, said this proved the strength of the local bilingual
> education program.
>
> Gayle Fallon, Houston Federation of Teachers spokeswoman, said both
> teachers and students did well for the first time in taking the TAKS.
>
> "Given the dire predictions of gloom and doom all over the state, we
> didn't do badly the first time around," Fallon said.
>
> "We're an urban district and many times students' academics are tied to
> the economics of their parents. So I'm satisfied that we almost hit the
> state average," she said.
>
> "It will help that the state will be putting more money into science
> teachers. Outstanding teachers are the best purchase," Fallon said.
>
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