Re: NYS Physics Regents exam

[Herbert H Gottlieb <herbgottlieb@JUNO.COM>]

Jim Green and other New York Detractors

Before you throw any more brickbats at me and the
other physics teachers of New York it would be a good idea
for you to see a copy of our June 2002 Physics regents exam.

Surveys in the past have shown that most physics students in
the rest of our country find it almost impossible to get grades of
85% or better in these rather difficult exams. It shouldn't be too hard
for our high school physics teachers and college professors to do
so, but I'm sure that many will have difficulty.

Copies of past regents exams as well as the "difficult" June 2002 physics

regents exams and teacher scoring keys are available without charge
and can be downloaded and printed directly from the WEB address:
        http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/edocs/education/exams/physics:htm

It would be interesting to see how many, if any , of our listserv members
are willing to try one or more of these exams and truthfully report their
scores to us before the summer is over.

Herb Gottlieb from New York City
(The home of the difficult New York State Regents Physics exams)
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On Thu, 04 Jul 2002 09:21:45 -0600 Jim Green <JMGreen@SISNA.COM> writes:
> > ========= From the NY Times web site (3 July 2002) ========
> >
> >  Statewide, the proportion of students who failed the exam tripled
> this year, to 33 percent from 11 percent. Only 16 percent this year
> scored  between 85 and 100, compared with 33 percent last year. About
> 40,000 students statewide took the exam in June.
>
> Oh my!  11% of one's students fail the test and the instructors are
> comfortable? -- Now we find that really 33% of ones students deserve
> to fail!!
>
> And no one is complaining about the instruction?!?  Everyone
> complains about the test?
>
> Further only 16% of the student merited a B+ or better.  Gee, that
> is terrible!  Poor souls!    Looks like a vacation in Lake Wobegone
> where some in the system think that the students are _all_ above
average.
> In one incarnation I taught at a college in NY.  I can attest that
> 33% of  the regents students  -- at least of those who ended up at that

> college --  _deserved_ to fail. Yet still no one complains about the
> instruction.  The  union is a powerful force in the NY.

> Sorry Herb. (;-)  Brooklyn is an exception.
>
> It must be the test's fault.
>
> Jim Green
> mailto:JMGreen@sisna.com
> http://users.sisna.com/jmgreen