Re: Justification for the SAT

[Juanita Doyon <Jedoyon@AOL.COM>]

In a message dated 9/1/01 6:27:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Nanodev@AOL.COM
writes:

<< Perhaps the best solution is to subject grades to the same sort of scrutiny
 and rigorous analysis that is now used for standardized tests.
  >>

huh?

Personally, I see nothing wrong with using SAT scores as one indicator.  In
my experience with college applications and admissions information sessions,
it has always been made clear that the schools would be considering the whole
picture of the student's academic past and personal goals.  Test scores,
grades, classes taken, essays.  Of course my kids weren't applying to Harvard
or MIT.  The admissions counselors also told us that there were many more
spots in colleges than there were kids who wanted to fill them.  Anybody who
has a kid in 9th thru 12th grade, who has ever filled out anything that goes
to a mailing list of higher education will realize this by the reams of
college information request pamphlets flooding the mailbox.

It occurs to me that the opportunity is there for anyone who desires to
attend college, in one form or another.  We each find our own way to success.
  The corrections that need making within the system of lower or higher ed
are those of opportunity to learn.  This takes a reduction in class size and
an increase of community involvement and parent/teacher/child empowerment.
It won't be done with a clamp down on grades or high stakes testing.

If there is a supportive parent in the picture, children succeed.  In the
absence of parental support, another caring adult must fill the void.  Our
schools are not equipped to do this for all children.  In our no fault
society, children often pay the price of lost opportunity and lost childhood.


When will common sense return?  Everything is not measurable.  Neither is
formal education everything.  Particularly in these the best of instant
access information times.  Only the educationally arrogant refuse to
recognize this fact.

Juanita

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