Only two states scored below Arizona on a 2009 national science assessment given to a sample of students, according to results released Tuesday.
Arizona’s average scale score (138) on The National Assessment of Educational Progress bested only California (136) and Mississippi (133). The national average was 149.
The test was given to fourth, eighth and 12th graders, though the state score does not include 12th graders’ results because that sample was too small.
The assessment measures students’ knowledge of three broad content areas: physical science, life science and Earth and space sciences.
amylprat posted at 11:51 am on Tue, Jan 25, 2011.
Well I think that they need to factor in how many of the students are from illegal immigrants and parents do not speak English. I'm not against immigration just go about it the right way and also help your kids succeed by learning the language.
PhilR1 posted at 12:30 pm on Tue, Jan 25, 2011.
I recently scored (3 yrs ago) national tests including those from
Arizona. The impact of having English as a second language
was obvious in the scoring. Many students were unable to write
a simple sentence without multiple errors in spelling or construction. I often saw sentences with only 6 words or so that
were nearly unintelligible. One would have to guess at the intended
meaning.
These students have no chance of qualifying for a job requiring even the most basic communication skills - hence the concentration of hispanic immigrants in common labor jobs such
as landscaping. It isn't necessarily discrimination - many of the
kids currently struggling through school are simply unable to
function in society because their communication skills are so
limited.
The effects of immigration probably affect the rest of the students negatively since the classroom teaching is undeniably
held back so that the "2nd language" students can participate to some degree.
I don't believe there are any easy solutions to this problem. For
the "2nd language" students to achieve at a reasonable level they
would probably require a couple of years of concentrated English
language studies. Obviously, from my test scoring experience,
students are not getting such classes. The educational system
simply is not getting the job done when students are unable to
communicate at even the most basic level.
I am all for a "melting pot" society, and have no prejudices against
any nationality or race. However, the effects of such a large immigrant group in the border states are obvious and undeniable.
What to do? I don't know.
JackSheet posted at 5:54 am on Fri, Jan 28, 2011.
Absolutely not comprehending english can make it hard to take a test written in english. Arizona is still far from a brain trust. Look at our Gover-nette. No, it's not her that I'm faulting, its the people who vote for her.