Standardized Tests, part 2

Hello everyone,

I'm sorry to send you two emails on the same day, but I'm afraid if I wait with these questions until Monday, I'll forget.

Jeff Combe

I received the following email (my comments are in CAPS):

The Q & A on CST was interesting.

Are you certain that there can only be a 5% student opt out to validate school ranking?

I ASKED MR. HUECK, THE TESTING COORDINATOR, AFTER I SENT THIS MORNING'S EMAIL OUT. MR. HUECK TOLD ME THAT 85% IS REQUIRED FOR A VALID TEST. 95% IS THE GOAL.

I may sound a bit anarchist but if you do not properly count populations, statistics obtained are always skewed.

TRUE. A GOOD STATISTICIAN SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. A GOOD POLITICIAN WILL SKEW IT.

Ex.: U.S.A., Canada,England, and Germany report somewhere between 12-13% of their populations with some sort of disability. Argentina reported with similar demographic make-up in the same time period 6%. Are Argentines truly fitter or are they as I believe not counting properly.

THESE THINGS REALLY CAN VARY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY (JAPAN IS FAMOUSLY HEALTHY, FOR EXAMPLE). STILL, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT TO PUT OUT CORRECT STATISTICS. I SUSPECT, AS YOU DO, THAT THEY'RE COOKING THE BOOKS.

STATISTICS ARE ALWAYS A PROBLEM IN EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY ARE SO POLITICIZED. IF WE CAN USE THE STATISTICS OF OUR OWN CLASSES, WE'RE BEST OFF.

AT ANY RATE, WE NEED GOOD DATA FROM MULTIPLE RELIABLE SOURCES TO HELP US.

Thank you for a place to sound off.

WELCOME.