Constants and variables 26
Wash state has a standardized test for Biology, along with other stuff like reading and math. Statewide, schools performed miserably on the Bio test. Only 34% passed. The average for all schools in Spokane is 31%, even worse.

Now, boys and girls. What's the purpose of a standardized test? It's not really a test for the kids. It's a test for the schools and educrats and teachers.

When the test-takers fail, you're supposed to figure out how to bring the test-takers up to the standard. You're NOT supposed to get rid of the fucking test.

Needless to say, the Teachers Union wants to get rid of the test, and needless to say, alleged legislator Timmah Ormsby, a loyal Union slave, goes along with this point.

Regardless of whether schools can find a way to succeed on the exam, Ormsby thinks “the value is suspect at best.” He admits he’s not a fan of testing anyway, but in this case “it’s creating a real crisis. It’s a real stone around the neck of these kids and their ability to be successful.”

Of course you're not a fan of testing, Timmah. Testing forces teachers to be competent.

Trouble is, we have an actual experiment. We have some REAL SCIENCE happening inside one school, which results in REAL [meta]SCIENCE at the level of the test. We have some COMPETENT teachers who force us to see by comparison that the OTHER TEACHERS are NOT COMPETENT.

Fucking constants and fucking variables, as fucking always.

ONE SCHOOL understands the point of the test, AND understands the point of science overall. Ferris High understands it.

Ferris High School is a notable exception. The school has the highest end-of-course passing rate in Spokane Public Schools – 85 percent last year – and is being held up as a successful example statewide. Science teachers there credit a collaborative approach, monthly practice for the exam and after-school study sessions prior to the June test.

“We also let students know what score is expected,” said Darci Hastings, a science teacher. “You can’t win a game unless you know how it’s scored. ... We focus on big-picture concepts. It’s more scientific thinking than memorization.”

Hastings teaches a biomed class that students and teachers have found boosts biology test scores by almost 10 percentage points.

This shouldn't be a surprise. Job-oriented and job-like training WORKS. Memorization DOES NOT WORK. Proved billions of times for thousands of years, but American schools refuse to learn.

Except for a blessed few like Ferris.

Bravo to Ferris.

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Later: Looks like I've conflated the score on the standardized test with the score on some kind of test-prep class ... but that doesn't change the basic point. Everyone except Ferris wants to eliminate the test and remain incompetent, while Ferris proved that learning is actually possible.

Labels: Experiential education

  ¶ 2:13 AM