Thread: The "reasons" we need to keep the SAT and ACT, or, "Things you will hear in the next few weeks."
This is a summary of a blog post I did that was TLDR, and it's linked in the second-to-last tweet.
Without further ado:
This is a summary of a blog post I did that was TLDR, and it's linked in the second-to-last tweet.
Without further ado:
1: The tests are "fair" because "everyone takes the same test" and "they're 'stanardized'."
Fact: We don't have a national curriculum, and these tests things less privileged students have not had the opportunity to study.
Fact: We don't have a national curriculum, and these tests things less privileged students have not had the opportunity to study.
2: Diamond in the Rough, or "How will we find good students in poor schools if we don't have the tests?"
Fact: Way more students are hurt by these tests than helped, as heart-warming as those stories are. The juice is not worth the squeeze.
Fact: Way more students are hurt by these tests than helped, as heart-warming as those stories are. The juice is not worth the squeeze.
3: Grade Inflation makes them necessary.
Fact: Grade inflation is overstated, and a grade is a different type of assessment than a sorting test like the SAT. It stokes fears among the advantaged that a student from a weaker school (poorer or browner) will get a leg up on yours
Fact: Grade inflation is overstated, and a grade is a different type of assessment than a sorting test like the SAT. It stokes fears among the advantaged that a student from a weaker school (poorer or browner) will get a leg up on yours
4: The tests just tell the cold, hard truth about inequality in America.
Fact: Perhaps they do. So it's a good idea to use them to perpetuate inequality in America?
Fact: Perhaps they do. So it's a good idea to use them to perpetuate inequality in America?
5: Test-optional doesn't increase diversity.
Fact: The "proof" of this is a study of less than 200 small liberal arts colleges, enrolling < 3% of college students. No one should assume it can be generalized to the larger population.
Fact: The "proof" of this is a study of less than 200 small liberal arts colleges, enrolling < 3% of college students. No one should assume it can be generalized to the larger population.
6. More information is better.
Fact: Perhaps generally true. However, at what cost? Think of how much time, money, and attention the tests draw away from actual learning and instruction.
Is that cost worth the tiny incremental value they offer?
Probably not.
Fact: Perhaps generally true. However, at what cost? Think of how much time, money, and attention the tests draw away from actual learning and instruction.
Is that cost worth the tiny incremental value they offer?
Probably not.
7. Everything else is bad so we need to keep bad tests.
Fact: Everything else may (but probably isn't) bad. But this argument really brings us back to "GPA is pretty much the only thing that's good." Even if there were grade inflation.
Fact: Everything else may (but probably isn't) bad. But this argument really brings us back to "GPA is pretty much the only thing that's good." Even if there were grade inflation.
8: Tests measure native ability.
Fact: In extra-racist 1920's America, the creator of the SAT thought some races were genetically and intellectually superior. The test was designed to find poor, but superior students.
No scientist believes the tests to measure native ability
Fact: In extra-racist 1920's America, the creator of the SAT thought some races were genetically and intellectually superior. The test was designed to find poor, but superior students.
No scientist believes the tests to measure native ability
9: Without tests, colleges can buy names of students. Opportunity vanishes.
Fact: Under the current system, that's mostly correct. But there is no need for us to put private companies in charge of this. States or compacts could take this duty and make it more equitable.
Fact: Under the current system, that's mostly correct. But there is no need for us to put private companies in charge of this. States or compacts could take this duty and make it more equitable.
Don't fall for these when you hear them. They're specious arguments, and at first, they make a lot of sense to people.
Rise above it.
Rise above it.
Here is the full TLDR blog post, with a lot more words than necessary. jonboeckenstedt.net/2020/01/10/som…
Oh, and #EMTalk
