Re: Justification for the SAT

[Judi Hirsch <judih@OUSD.K12.CA.US>]

As to whether or not a person should go to college--if this is what the
point of the discussion is--it would be my strong opinion that the decision
should be up to the student.
why keep someone out who wants to go? how ridiculous! all of us know that
racism and classism affect teacher judgment and student performance.  So
many of my students with "learning disabilities" have gone on to complete
college DESPITE low test scores and a profound inability to spell well or
remember trivia that I assume that what's true for them must be true for
others.
Also, we must not forget that school is a very demeaning place for many
student, and that the "freedom" that comes with college makes school much
more palatable.
Judi
----- Original Message -----
From: dennis roberts <dmr@PSU.EDU>
To: <ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: Justification for the SAT


> let's face it ... there is no justification for relying on any one measure
> ... in the student's record ... to determine if they should go to college
> and/ or should be offered admission to college
>
> however, most would agree that there are some things more important than
> others ...
>
> whether they did will in "gym" in high school would NOT be one of them
>
> their score on a spelling test might not be another either
>
> or whether they were in the band
>
> but, there are a number of major tests and courses ... and grades ... and
> accomplishments ... that are ...
>
> can we PLEASE abandon the notion that ONE thing is all important?
>
> in addition ... we have to face another fact ...
>
> no matter WHAT you toss into the pot or don't toss into the pot ... for
> predicting college success ... or (from the perspective of the typical
> college admissions officer) for deciding to offer admission or not offer
> admission ... more than 50% of the variation we see in college grades ...
> IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE ...
>
> there are so many reasons why kids opt to try to go to college or not ...
> to do well or not well in college ... or finish or not finish college ...
> that are serendipitous ... random occurrences that "just present"
> themselves to the student at moments in time (personal crises, financial
> crises, smart but deteriorating level of motivation, lucky chance at jobs,
> etc. etc. ) ... that we need to take ALL attempts to estimate "potential"
> success with a grain of salt
>
> while a variety of factors can be helpful in counseling high school
> students about college ... and, used to make admissions decisions ... NONE
> of these will be REAL successful ...
>
>
>
>
> ==============================================================
> dennis roberts, penn state university
> educational psychology, 8148632401
> http://roberts.ed.psu.edu/users/droberts/drober~1.htm
>
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