SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade

Associated Press ^ | 8/26/08 | ALAN SCHER ZAGIER

[AngieGal]

For the second consecutive year, SAT scores for the most recent high school graduating class remained at the lowest level in nearly a decade, according to results released Tuesday.

But the College Board, which owns the exam, attributes the lower averages of late to a more positive development: a broader array of students are taking the test, from more first-generation college students to a record number of students — nearly one in seven — whose family income qualifies them to take the test for free.

[AngieGal]

Historically there have been lots of very bright and well-educated first-generation college students and low income students. This an empty excuse for the abysmal state of our nation's education system.

[ConservaTexan]

Thank you NEA.

[metmom]

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the “other” articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list. The main Homeschool Ping List handles the homeschool-specific articles. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping list. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from either list, or both.

[gwilhelm56]

**This an empty excuse for the abysmal state of our nation’s education system.**

Government/Union Controlled Indoctrination Centers (formerly called School). Since these Centers have put Esteem over Learning, Global Warming over Gym class; they can feel Good about themselves when they find they Cannot READ THEIR DIPLOMA!!

[raygunfan]

great, a broader range of stupidity....

[metmom]

It could be that there’s much more of a push for EVERYONE to take the test and that this is just showing up the true results of what public education has become.

Look at the graduation rates and this is no surprise.

The education system in this country is proving itself to be a huge failure with these two measures of achievement.

[reaganaut1]

“Historically there have been lots of very bright and well-educated first-generation college students and low income students. This an empty excuse for the abysmal state of our nation’s education system.”

I disagree. When the proportion of people going to college was expanding from a low base, many of the new students were bright and motivated. Efforts to increase the number of college graduates from the *current* level are doomed to failure, because many of the marginal students are not smart enough. Charles Murray discusses this in his recent book “Real Education”. Demographic changes in the U.S. will only intensify the problem. Hispanics are the fastest growing group, and for whatever reason many Hispanic students are not ready to go to college. A big fraction are incapable of finishing high school.

[MrB]

Thank you libs in general -

since 1963, every negative social indicator has skyrocketed exponentially,

and SAT scores have plummetted exponentially.

1963 - prayer out of schools. Not a cause/effect, but an indicator of what is going wrong in society.

[upchuck]

Whoops, I guess somebody at the College Board forgot to dumb down the test some more.

Now, more than ever, HOMESCHOOL YOUR KIDS.

I mentor in several schools. And every year the education level falls. It is to the point that I may stop due to the never ending frustration.

[Herakles]

“from more first-generation college students to a record number of students — nearly one in seven — whose family income qualifies them to take the test for free.”

So their spin is; its not the bad teaching but the fact that we have more stupid children!

All I can tell you is that I frequent the Penn State main campus and the vast majority of students entering the university would have been rejected in the 60’s - they would have not made it through the gate. I believe this lowering of standards is get more money into the university. All of the socialist liberals running PSU have turned into their most hated enemy; capitalists - but that's ok, its for their glorious cause of brainwashing the unintelligent youth into becoming liberals with minds full of mush.

[Tired of Taxes]

It could be that there’s much more of a push for EVERYONE to take the test and that this is just showing up the true results of what public education has become.

It seems too many schools are pushing all students onto an academic track, even if they don't want to be on it.

[theBuckwheat]

How low will scores have to get and how how will the per-pupil expenditure have to get before parents are given vouchers and allowed to choose private alternates to the existing government monopoly?

[Pylon]

“SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade”

I always tested better on THUR or FRI

[polymuser]

And Obama would federalize much more of our public school system, if not all of it.

[Dr. Hog]

Not only is it not a poor excuse, it is exactly on the money. Every subgroup scores higher today than they did 25 years ago. The overall scores are down but is because the subgroups with the lowest average scores are an increasingly large proportion of the scores. It is a fact. For those of you who want to believe America and its schools are declining, feel free to do so, but I believe America is still the greatest and its schools are, too.

[tumblindice]

On a brighter note ... students’ self-esteem is at an all time high!

[tflabo]

“SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade”

Say there uncle Ted.....they didn't give you credit for this last night. Or we just need to spend billions more on education ay?

[reaganaut1]

“The overall scores are down but is because the subgroups with the lowest average scores are an increasingly large proportion of the scores. It is a fact. For those of you who want to believe America and its schools are declining, feel free to do so, but I believe America is still the greatest and its schools are, too.”

How long will America stay the greatest if the least educated reproduce the fastest?

[tflabo]

As for the corrupt NEA and liberal run education system..

"Because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would have none of my counsel and despised my every correction. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way.....For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil" Proverbs 1:29-33

[Tired of Taxes]

For those of you who want to believe America and its schools are declining, feel free to do so, but I believe America is still the greatest and its schools are, too.

The U.S. college system is considered the best in the world. With all the criticism of the U.S. K-12 system, and even though foreign students score higher on tests than U.S. students, other countries still strive to emulate our college system. Foreign students still want to come here for college.

Yes, the word "college" has taken a hit. In the past, college was considered the place for high-achieving students. Now it's a place anyone can go for career training. More and more Americans are skipping high school and going straight to community college. Maybe this is just a shift in educational structure. Count me as one of those people who believes young people should start in career training and college at an earlier age.

[ConservaTexan]

Amen!

[Dr. Hog]

America is one of the only nations in the world that expects and demands the least capable of its citizenry to rise from poverty, disability, fractured home lives, and misery to the top of the heap. Schools are the vehicles that make it possible. Schools in America celebrate and rejoice ever time a child rises from his/her plight to find higher ground. Many children have no greater hope than the school he/she attends.

If I understand what you are saying, it is not the children's fault. Our schools don't care where you come from, just tell us what your hopes and dreams are.

[bboop]

I agree - skip high school and go straight to college.

[rrrod]

Close public schools.

[Amelia]

So their spin is; its not the bad teaching but the fact that we have more stupid children!

Not more stupid children, but more stupid children taking the SAT.

[Amelia]

Public Education Ping

This list is for intellectual discussion of articles and issues related to public education (including charter schools) from the preschool to university level. Items more appropriately placed on the “Naughty Teacher” list, “Another reason to Homeschool” list, or of a general public-school-bashing nature will not be pinged. If you would like to be on or off this list, please freepmail Amelia, Gabz, Shag377, or SoftballMominVa

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

Need to spend more on education

[CottonBall]

I always tested better on THUR or FRI

LOL!

[CottonBall]

Every subgroup scores higher today than they did 25 years ago. The overall scores are down but is because the subgroups with the lowest average scores are an increasingly large proportion of the scores. It is a fact. For those of you who want to believe America and its schools are declining, feel free to do so, but I believe America is still the greatest and its schools are, too.

You must be a teacher. Those are the only people I've encountered that think our education system is just fine.

How can every subgroup score higher today than 25 years ago when in 1995 the way the test was graded was 'recentered', or in plain English, dumbed-down. The number of perfect 1600s increased because students could miss several questions and still get a 'perfect' score. And universities have to add somewhere between 60-120 points to a pre-centered score to compare it to today's score, depending on the math/english breakdown.

We've also scored near last in each of the TIMSS (Trends in Math and Science Studies) which have been conducted every 4 years since 1995. The results are consistent. We are behind every single industrialized nation and below many third world nation as well. To counteract the typical liberal response of 'our underachieving minorities are dragging down our scores' - when students the top students in all nations were testing, identified as those taking physics and Calculus, we came in last in one and second to last in the other (can't remember which was which).

Somehow, the MSM doesn't report these international tests nor was the recentering covered very much. They are helping the NEA cover up the inadequacies so they can keep begging for more tax money.

[CottonBall]

Our schools don't care where you come from, just tell us what your hopes and dreams are.

That is the way it should be and the way it was in the 50's, before the dumbing down began.

However, a liberal agenda has taken a stranglehold in our schools and the entitlement attitude, being a victim, and 'self-esteem' built on air is what's offered instead. (I've taught briefly in 2 states, 4 schools including one private - and the attitude in all was the same. Because that's what's taught in the teaching credentialing classes. It's 100% a liberal agenda with the basics of how to actually teach ignored completely)

[CottonBall]

“when students the top students in all nations were testing, “

should’ve been

“when the top students in all nations were tested...”

(I know everyone could figure that out, but for those that like to ignore the content of a post and concentrate on the grammar, I thought I’d fix it)