Thanks for posting this topic because it has always been a question of mine as well. Just curious how many of you have seen these standardized STAR tests? If you have, you’ll know that there are schools that specifically teach to this test. I think that’s why you see particular schools even in the less than desirable areas that have good test scores. I’ve known of schools who carve out X amount of weeks specifically coaching for this test. And if you’ve seen it you’d also know that it’s not a true measure of intelligence or even accurately portrays all the knowledge the student has in these subjects. (Full disclosure, my kids kick butt on these tests, so it’s not like I’m biased because they scored low). I honestly think the test scores reflect as others have said demographics and test preparation more than anything. Anyone who said they are tied to IQ scores obviously hasn’t seen it. They do not measure intelligence potential. And the reason for test scores getting better is that they are coming up with better ways to cram for it.
So overall, I think it’s very odd that this test score is all anyone ever focuses on. I guess it’s the only concrete number there is. I don’t think it’s odd that parents want to put their children in a good school district but all they care about is that one number! Parts of the test are a total joke (like some wording on the spelling portions saying things like ‘which word is NOT spelled incorrectly’, the phrasing on questions, the subjects for reading) and I seriously have to question the creators of it. And of course like all public school curricula, they have to use ethnic subjects and names for absolutely no reason and just end up distracting the majority of students. It’s never John Smith who is hard working, has a rich heritage, and volunteers in a charity.
[quote=Rich Toscano]But my K-12 education experience basically consisted of me being taught mostly kind of useless stuff, and me just later learning all the useful stuff on my own.[/quote]
I have to ditto this. Basically almost everything I feel I learned K-12 was self taught and the school just provided the materials. Children need to have strong reading and math skills early on and then the rest falls into place as long as they still have a natural desire to learn. Spending weeks on test preparation is one sure way of killing that desire.
I see this obsession over schools as just an extension of the general obsession parents today have over everything in their children’s lives. Then they wonder why they have adult children who are totally dependent on them later on.
