SAT Execs Balk at NY Senator's Subpoena

[ctenidae]

Unfortunately, not enough people know about the ACT, which most colleges accept and claim to hold in the same regard as the SAT. I'm going to try practice tests of both to see which I score better on.

West of the Mississippi the ACT is accepted much like the ACT. Not so much on this side. Or at least, that's the way it was when I was sweating them.

 

[John84]

West of the Mississippi the ACT is accepted much like the ACT. Not so much on this side. Or at least, that's the way it was when I was sweating them.

It's accepted at almost every school except for a few. It is true that most East Coast colleges receive primarily SAT scores from applicants.

 

[skibum1321]

Or, overhaul the school system to make sure all schools meet and exceed federal standards and then you won't have to have them learn about the differences.

Where would all that money come from? We are in such a deficit that cuts to school funding are far more likely than anything else.

 

[thetrailboss]

Where would all that money come from? We are in such a deficit that cuts to school funding are far more likely than anything else.

I could tell you where, but that is political. :wink:

 

[ctenidae]

I could tell you where, but that is political. :wink:

Heh. Too true, too true. The GAO (Government Accoutning Office) is predicting that within the next 10 years or so, the gov't won't have enough money to cover anything except defense, SS, Medicare, and transportation. No money for education, other entitlements, arts, science, or anything else, if things continue the way they are.

SATs will be pretty irrelevant when public schools start shutting down.

 

[JimG.]

Where would all that money come from? We are in such a deficit that cuts to school funding are far more likely than anything else.

I know, you're right. I was speaking hypothetically.

Schools should be the last places where budget cuts are considered.

Would I be naive to think that school curriculums state to state could be overhauled to meet a common standard and that this could be done by increasing efficiency and productivity instead of cost?

 

[ctenidae]

Would I be naive to think that school curriculums state to state could be overhauled to meet a common standard and that this could be done by increasing efficiency and productivity instead of cost?

Stepping on state's rights issues, there.

 

[JimG.]

Would I be naive to think that school curriculums state to state could be overhauled to meet a common standard and that this could be done by increasing efficiency and productivity instead of cost?

Stepping on state's rights issues, there.

I know...every state needs their own rights. And every state needs a different curriculum and different standards. Because it's their right. Right?

To me, that's a bad thing when it's pursued to the exclusion of cooperation and a common goal.

So I'll be a steppin' and a dancin' on those rights as much as I can.

 

[ctenidae]

So I'll be a steppin' and a dancin' on those rights as much as I can.

That's what caused the Civil War, you know.

Wow, from the SAT to the Civil War, in only 3 pages. We're getting good at this.

 

[JimG.]

That's what caused the Civil War, you know.

Since I'm a believer in common goals and cooperation, I certainly wouldn't want to see a Civil War break out over this.

Not a hawk, don't care for death and destruction.

But, the Civil War was fought over a just cause. I hope we can agree in a non-political way that slavery is a bad thing and that humans have no right to own other humans. Unfortunately, we had to fight a war over it.

Do you believe that these school related issues could actually go that far?

 

[ctenidae]

I doubt a school issue would get to a civil war (what's so civil about war, anyway?).

I will disagree that slavery was the cause of the Civil War. It was the rallying cry and the proverbial straw, but it's not what caused the South to want secede. Slavery is bad, terrible even, that's for sure, but what precipitated the Civil War was the federal government overstepping its powers and directing states to act in certain ways. It's the old fight between the Commerce Clause (Artice I, Section 8, Clause 3) and the 10th Amendment.

So, slavery was certainly a contributing factor, and could even be called the pivotal factor, but not the cause.

 

[JimG.]

So, slavery was certainly a contributing factor, and could even be called the pivotal factor, but not the cause.

Keep it simple with a one word, yes or no answer:

Would the Civil War have been fought if there had never been any slaves in America?

 

[ctenidae]

Yes.

 

[JimG.]

Yes.

I'm quite certain you're aware that we disagree on that point.

 

[skibum1321]

Back to the topic at hand:

It doesn't seem right that states should be able to teach whatever they think is true (FYI - Kansas teaching about Intelligent Design). There should be some sort of federal standards governing what is taught.

Would I be naive to think that school curriculums state to state could be overhauled to meet a common standard and that this could be done by increasing efficiency and productivity instead of cost?

Yes

 

[ctenidae]

I'm quite certain you're aware that we disagree on that point.

Your right as an American.

Back to the education point, I think it should be a state's decision what goes on the curriculum. There are certain federal guidelines (mostly in the form of "Have this on the list, or we don't send you any money"), but if the federal governement started mandating all public school curricula, then they'd have to start paying for it all, too. that's not going to happen, because it can't, and it shouldn't.

 

[skibum1321]

Your right as an American.

Back to the education point, I think it should be a state's decision what goes on the curriculum. There are certain federal guidelines (mostly in the form of "Have this on the list, or we don't send you any money"), but if the federal governement started mandating all public school curricula, then they'd have to start paying for it all, too. that's not going to happen, because it can't, and it shouldn't.

But I also think that they have too much free reign. I don't think I'll ever be able to take someone that was educated in Kansas seriously. I think the federal government should make sure that only things that are widely accepted are taught.

 

[ctenidae]

In Kansas, it is widely accepted that Intelligent Design should be taught.

In a non-specific manner, think about the problems you have with the activities and decisions of elected federal officials. Would you want those same people determining what your child gets taught? I don't. I'd much rather have it decided at a level where I could get involved and have a direct impact.

 

[JimG.]

In Kansas, it is widely accepted that Intelligent Design should be taught.

In a non-specific manner, think about the problems you have with the activities and decisions of elected federal officials. Would you want those same people determining what your child gets taught? I don't. I'd much rather have it decided at a level where I could get involved and have a direct impact.

For the sake of argument, say you got a job transfer to Kansas and you had a few kids of school age. Is that what you would want your kids to learn? I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I'm just asking if that's your preference.

Assuming it is not, do you feel that your voice would be heard by state or local officials?

 

[ctenidae]

I would hope that, as a parent, I would manage to teach my kids how to critically evaluate things, so personally, I would have no problem in that scenario. My voice would be heard on a local level, though, and on a state level as much as it could be, because I know a large portion of the population has failed to learn to think critically.