Standardized testing

Across America, cheating on standardized tests is becoming a big issue; but not by the students. Texas is discovering a vast number of teachers who have bent the rules in big ways just to get a better grade from students and raise their . Bob Schaeffer from USA Today has a few very practical suggestions on how to handle this emerging issue. He explains that since the test results are all that matter there is a large amount of pressure on teachers and schools to make those numbers look good. I know a handful of teachers here in Austin and they all agree that standardized testing misses the whole point of teaching. Teachers have to focus on “drilling in” information into student’s brains from a pretty narrow curriculum. Because of this, students really miss out on learning the real, everyday, important material that most adults today covered as young students. These tests were made to improve education, yet it is having the opposite effect.
Schaeffer suggests that basic classroom standards encourage learning and can measure the student’s span of knowledge much better. This includes things like student essays, projects, and regular classroom tests, where the teacher can still be assessed to make sure they are grading accurately.
The teachers I know personally love teaching, that’s why those chose the profession. But the “high-stakes” standardized testing - required under No Child Left Behind - is hurting more than it is helping. I completely agree with Bob Schaffer’s view and appreciate that he actually offers valid ideas for fixing the problems with the system rather than just scrutinizing teachers. He explains the problem and offers a solution. That’s my kind of writer!!

Not Looking at the Whole Picture

I am critiquing an article from FOX News’ opinion section regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from all federal funding. In the article, Planned Parenthood Poised to Take a Very Hard Fall -- And It Should, the author (P. Y. Nance) largely expresses that abortions are bad and therefore Planned Parenthood does not deserve federal money. Now, although Fox News claims to be an unbiased network, using slogans like, “We report. You decide.” and “Fair and Balanced”, it is widely considered to be very conservative. So the audience that Nance is reaching out to is assumedly conservative too. Throughout the article, Nance describes the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Planned Parenthood as an evil pro-abortion clinic, even naming it “the crown jewel of the abortion industry”. Her best reasoning for America’s supposed pro-life shift seems to be that babies are cute. Nance cites improvements in sonograms/ultrasounds as making “the public increasingly predisposed against abortion.” And she even uses an old motor oil commercial - which shows a fetus as a Nascar driver - to support her argument that America’s views are changing about abortion. That is quite a far stretch; I have seen a number of commercials with babies - some driving cars, others are rollerskating, and my personal favorite -- a baby e-trader. Is this a sign that there is a “seismic political shift” on abortions? NOPE! Babies are just amusing to watch, especially when they portray adult attributes. She then tries to argue that anyone who has seen a sonogram picture in the past decade, must favor the pro-life position. It seems to me that Nance does not consider the real issues that go in to deciding what to do about an unexpected pregnancy; she is happy to just emphasize the fact that babies are cute.
Now, I am by no means pro-abortion. Personally I don’t believe that I could ever, EVER choose to terminate a pregnancy, but the beauty of the matter is that I HAVE THE CHOICE TO MAKE MYSELF!! But that’s not what this blog is about. My views on pro-life vs. pro-choice are a whole other topic.
I think what’s most important here is that Nance only focuses on one aspect of Planned Parenthood. PP also uses funding to provide low-income women (and men) with birth control; screenings for cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, and thyroid issues; testing for sexually transmitted diseases; tetanus and flu vaccines; and annual physicals. They also offer help/ advice on body image, healthy relationships, and quitting smoking. It’s troubling to me that Nance was able to overlook all of this just to try to make Planned Parenthood look like the bad guy, focusing on abortions.
This article did not change my point of view AT ALL about Planned Parenthood and my belief that it is wrong to cut their funding. I do not see any evidence that her point (PP should take a hard fall) is valid. And although our views may vary, I would at least expect an intelligent journalist to have some kind of evidence to back up her argument.

Let's Give 'em Something to Talk About

I came across an interesting article today asking, How Can a Democracy Solve Tough Problems. Good question, so I started reading. And wouldn't you know it, it talked about Mr. James Fishkin and his "deliberative polling". As a Fishkin fan, I was quite excited to read what the author thought of this polling process in regards to America's problems today. I, myself, wonder if it could be an answer (or at least an idea to build off of) for our country's crises - the economy and social security, even education and health-care are unstable issues. Imagine if "We the People" could truly make informed, reasonable decisions on matters because we were honestly and correctly informed. If Americans knew all the factual details (not just propaganda), and were given the opportunity to have intelligent conversions with experts, then I have complete confidence that the nation could really move forward in finding realistic ideas to sove our "tough problems". How Can a Democracy Solve Tough Problems is a worthwhile read and I hope it gives everyone something to talk about!