Does anyone see the irony in this?

This is perhaps one of the worst things in history, and one of the worst things politicians could ever get behind. Standardized tests, or even so-called intelligence tests (or even “real” intelligence tests for that matter [but what is "intelligence"?]).

As soon as people start to classify people into neat little groups based on their abilities, they’ve guaranteed that the people will be in those groups. Many years ago, as taught when I was in college, there was a study. They took a class and gave them an intelligence test. They then divided the class into four groups. Two groups scored in the top 50%, two in the bottom 50%, with an equal distribution of test scores within (so both top 50% groups had kids scoring from 50-100, same for bottom 50%). They then put a top 50% and bottom 50% group together and told the teacher “these scored highest”, and took another top 50% and bottom 50% and said “these scored lowest”. At the end of the year a student that was at the top of the class intelligence wise was scoring in the bottom 50%, and the bottom of the class was scoring in the top 50%. Why? The teachers figured there was no point in teaching them (on a subconscious level at least) so they didn’t treat the students equally.

But even that isn’t the problem I’m talking about here. Politicians with the “no child left behind (NCLB)” have done something that’s even worse: they’re making different states and schools dumb down the standardized tests so all students pass — or just teach for the test and not actual information as would be needed. Music, arts, and other “not tested for” items aren’t taught and end up with funding being cut. They need to spend time teaching even more standardized test information to make sure the students can pass.

It’s just an example of how politicians want something good — but don’t think of the consequences. All the kids are losing out on valuable information — some aren’t even being taught how to spell! There’s stories of teachers that don’t teach reading problems (“a train leaves station A heading east at 40mph….”). Kids aren’t taught that life isn’t about multiple choices. Class upon class uses scantron based tests (so everything’s multiple choice) — granted there’s many teachers and schools actually, well, teaching. It’s a sad state of a country to say that the progress and abilities of a person can be fit into a multiple choice test. And I bet that everyone has taken a “guess” on those before. Let’s be honest… ask a person what 9*9 is and you’ll probably have a lot of wrong answers. Phrase it like:

9 * 9 = ?

1. 18
2. 27
3. 9.9
4. 81

And you k now, you do, that you’ll have a lot more people getting the answer “right” even if they don’t know what the answer is. Just by thinking “9*9 is 9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9+9, and that’s gotta be larger than 27….”

A lot of things are going on right now… and some things will be postponed a bit more than I had planned.

Once i have time to collect info on the democratic convention, I’ll put it here.  Sadly, real life takes priority (as it pays the bills).  Of course it’s also one reason I want others here!

So stay tuned for this as well.

Ok, while this is a large topic, and I don’t really feel like writing up anything big right now — let’s just say that if I remember I’ll have a large post for the first time in a while about these.  Might even span two days….

So stay tuned.

Not literally — don’t worry.  With all the new security features tossed into some schools now, they have locked doors at all times, classrooms can be locked, teachers need walkie-talkies to get in and out of the building with their class (during recess and such).  They even have “lockdowns” in case of a shooter (which, ironically, will trap the students with the gunman).

It’s a sad day when schools have about as much security as a min-security prison.  But here’s the real question:  what’s school like in your area?

In order to get any updates, I’ll apparently have to make an appoint to talk to the board (just to ask a question… about something that is either on the books or not, overkill if you ask me).

And I say “who cares”.

After all the stupid “celebrity” type of things going on around it, with giggly girls laughing and hiding their mouths when Obama is mentioned like he’s the next coming it just goes to show that he’s a great politician — he’s managed to convince a large number of people he isn’t one, he’s a celebrity!

All he is is a politician.  One that managed to get elected, magaged to pull the wool over the american’s eyes by being the candidate for change….ing his views, beliefs and stances based on what will get him elected.

And then he picks someone that’s an even better politician!  Isn’t that a wonderful thing?  After all, the policiticans we have now have done such a wonderful job!  People can’t afford housing, food’s more money than people make, people need to work 2-4 jobs per house to afford the bills…. meanwhile the politicians (the big ones in the news) always seem to have multiple houses, millions of dolalrs, and the ability to buy a small island or jet.  Now that’s in touch with the common man!

[The above paragraph was sarcastic -- in case you didn't realize.]

So in the end it comes down to the one thing…. who really cares?  It’s just another politician that’s been in politics so long that “the establishment” can be an alias.

I remember the days when people said “you don’t read the paper??? But how do you get the news!”

I haven’t gotten the paper in over two years now — because it stopped reporting the news.  Oh, they’d report maybe one full page of local news, obits, letter to the editor (some days), and two pages for sports, and two for classifieds, with about two more pages of advertising.  But that’s it.

And I know many are probably saying “but that’s onen page of local news!”  Yeah… if you consider “local business gets a new copy machine!” as front-page worthy news.  Or even “hospital gets new doctor!” (we’ve had one doctor ariive, get sued and leave, get sued at another place and leave, get sued at the other place and leave, then come back as the “best new doctor!”).  We had a place get robbed — never made it to the paper.  Fire?  Only if they feel like it.  Sex scandel?  Only if it’s someone who isn’t known in town.  Drug arrest?  Only if the person’s not known.

When the paper starts to filter what people do and don’t see — and considers things such as “new copy machine” front-page worthy — but not “local politician wanted for soliciting sex with underage girl”… doesn’t make you want to run out and see what’s going on.

I hope it’s not a trend everywhere.  It’s a sad thing when newspapers and media agencies think “news is what we say it is, and depends on who’s doing it” and not “news is everywhere”.

In my town there’s even more trees dying out.  Just the other day as I was out walking I found large trees that were healthy-looking and green not even a month ago that have branches with brown and dried out leaves ready to come falling down on houses and cars.

It seems a tad bit quick in a way — for a green tree to have half die in a month — but in a sense it’s not.  All the same it still seems curious.