Public Intelligence and the Missouri MAP Test

[NoFederales]

Public Intelligence and the Missouri MAP Test As Reported in the Sunday Joplin Globe, 8-28-2005

Many folks have wondered how a nation such as the US could be so hoodwinked by callous and corrupted politicians and the corporatists who bankroll them. Let’s take a “fun” look at the State’s mandated education testing instrument, the MAP Test. Results are out from the 2005 Spring Event. Communication Arts—SW MO seems hard put to Show Me why almost 1/3 of those High School Juniors have only minimal understanding of simple concepts, and little or no ability to apply that knowledge. The State’s Average is even worse, about 35%. ( Geez, I can feel somewhat better, eh?)

In mathematics and science the scores are worse, ranging from 50 to 60% of NOT knowing simple concepts, of being able to apply them, and of course the usual host of serious errors. If you throw in the next category—NEARING PROFICIENCY—the percentages swell to Comm Arts, >75%; Math, >80%; Science, >90% (just looking at the State Averages). That leaves students who are judged to be COMPETENT in communication arts at <25%; in math at <20%; and in science at < 10%. I did not make these numbers up, these are Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) calculations. You can get your school results from DESE, or from a local paper, if they will print it.

Keep in mind that the Nearing Proficiency category simply indicates that some knowledge of concepts exists, but that there are major problems in demonstrating that this knowledge can be applied. This trend has been worsening since the Bush Administration’s NCLB, but DESE’s braintrust—MAP—has hardly been a benchmark of anything except to underscore how NOT to test children.

If the above “standard results” from the Show Me State are indicative of Public Intelligence, then it is no wonder how a society can be so easily misled. Do not let public officials claim that things are, or will be, just fine in due course. Do not let school administrations claim, without challenge, that our schools are better than the State Average as an excuse that justifies continuing the same old methods. Do Missourians want a third world order education—one that makes us so stupid that we will accept any corrupt and malicious abuse?

I know that Duers are concerned with politics, the environment, peace, etc., but in a collectively stupid society, the intelligent minority may as well not exist.


NoFederales

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. You really need to look at the test itself

before you make these judgments.

MO has one of the better tests in the country. It was also one of the first states to develop its own test and not use a nationally recognized standardized test. Mo's test is also written and scored by teachers, which is uncommon.

I have seen many of the tests given in other states and I have more confidence in what is happening in MO than in what they are doing in KS or in most other states, for that matter.

[NoFederales]

2. Problems

with the MAP test were carried over from the previous statewide testing program. For instance,it was possible for students to be tested over material at certain grade levels without their necessarily having been taught that material. Statewide anger from teachers about this was grudgingly acknowledged by DESE and teachers were told that it would be fixed with the new Test. It was not.

Not only was the sequential problem ignored, but our curriculums were now stripped of "general" status, eg, General Science was no longer allowed, emphasis would be on Life and Physical. But the MAP would be a general test that covered all topics of general science whether or not they were covered locally or not. Furthermore, because DESE will not declare a preferred State Curricula, the MAP is given and no one knows what it may cover--the Test is a moving target from year to year, wholly without standardization and from a nebulous curriculum that the State cannot define.

"Standardization" brings us to the real reason teachers are solicited to be graders: no one else would rightly try to do it since it is a hand scored effort. Test items may be solicited from Teachers, but that doesn't make them good, nor complete, items. It is subjective grading, although attempts are made to follow rubrics of sorts. But even the exalted "standards" of reading and writing are snubbed. For example, while teachers are charged to have students write in full grammatical style and expression following such sainted rubrics throughout the year, come test time it is anything goes from poor spelling, to undecipherable scrawling, to incomprehensible structure--points are awarded if ANY meaning can be INFERRED by the grader. And magically, by mathematical hocus-pocus we are told that statistical significance can be determined, and is, lo and beholden, on a par with the College Board's ACT, or Advanced Placement exams. Oh, and should a District happen to fall into bad press and/or come under the evil eye of the State, behind the scenes wrangling is done administratively, and many Districts hop out of the fire, back into the frying pan, to recover harm in whatever manner deemed appropriate by school boards and administrations with the winking approval of the State having received its mea culpa honorariums.

I cannot speak about other States. I know of some trends. Most are cookbook, many of them last only a year or two. Very few attempt to deal with objective data that deals with the real clients, THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES. Until kids come first nothing will change. Let me be real clear: teaching is NOT about teachers; teaching is NOT about administrative/business syle management or finances; teaching is NOT about strictures from on high, whether or not they are saintly, or wholly believed. The bottom line is sudents and the skills they acquire. No amount of State testing will ever address this issue; it already hinders the true purpose of schooling. An education in Missouri probably no worse than anywhere else; the point is, education ANYWHERE is in serious jeopardy. And if the Public is uneducated, our Republic is wholly diminished.

NoFederales