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[Phys-L] Re: On the Impact of Standards



Hi all-
I maintain that untrue exaggeration does not help our cause. As
an alumnus and contributor to MIT I am personally insulted by the
sugggestion that the Institute will waive its standards for money.
Regards,
Jack


On Tue, 24 May 2005, Arlyn DeBruyckere wrote:

I'm not surprised. In Minnesota the "Education Department" has
decided that the NCLB ("No Child Left Behing" - really No Child Gets
Ahead) test at the high school level will be a life science test only
since all students are required to take life science. Even though
NCLB "requires" all students to have "learning opportunities" in all
science areas, only the life science parts will be on THE test for 9-12.

Colleges are complaining that about 30-40 percent of students need
remedial courses to be ready for college science and math. They say
they require 3 years of math and 3 years of science to be admitted
but in reality they will admit anyone who can write a check that
doesn't bounce.

NCLB says we have to teach all sciences (earth, physics, chemistry,
life) to ALL students in grades 9-12 but the state test will only
test life science. Put the combination of these two together and
wonder what will happen to science education in our state.


On May 24, 2005, at 7:53 AM, Joseph Bellina wrote:

This was sent to the NSTA, physical science list...I find it very
troubling.

"The district I am in (Burnsville, Minnesota) is planning on moving
all the
9-12 physics standards into 8th grade. This is because senior
physics is
not a required course and the standards for physical science must be
met/assessed by all students.


snip

I suggested it was a dangerous idea, both in terms of student
preparedness if they were going to do something really
quantitative, but that they might want to look at the physics first
material.

It seems to me that this is a good example of the standards gone
wrong. The class could become the classic example of what drives
kids away from science.


cheers,

joe


--
Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
574-284-4662, 4968
Saint Mary's College
Dept. of Chemistry and Physics
Notre Dame, IN, 46556


Arlyn DeBruyckere
Science Teacher
School Photographer
Hutchinson High School
1200 Roberts Road SW
Hutchinson MN 55350

HHS Weather at http://www.hutch.k12.mn.us/weather/
current_vantage_pro.htm

http://www.hutch.k12.mn.us/teacher/ArlynDeBruyckereHS.cfm
mailto:arlynd@hutch.k12.mn.us

http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/hea/
http://www.educationminnesota.org
If it is to be it is up to me!



--
"Trust me. I have a lot of experience at this."
General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley
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