Common Core Standards/Testing-SAT Scores-IQ-RACE---Multiple Intelligences?!?!

[Mike]

Hi All...... rainy...nor-easter here on the coast of southern new jersey. Windy...cold...a good night to drink hot drinks and wonder where it is we seem to be heading in our efforts to educate our kids.

The Standards movement has continued to gain strength with groups like the Common Core, Achieve Inc, the American Dipolma Project and other powerful groups. Although many of the discussions start with what it is we would like our children to learn...they always end up around a percieved deficit that our children have when it comes to testing outcomes. Today the NAEP math results were released and immediately you see articles comparing the states math scores on the state tests and the NAEP results.
Here is one from New York:http://www.nycsa.org/blog/2009/10/naep-math-scores-attack-nys-exams...

The NAEP is now being used to see how rigorous the various state tests in America compare. The emphasis is...see your state tests are too easy... your really not doing as well as you say and it becomes an arguement for "national testing."

Rarely if ever these days does one here much about IQ. IQ has become a subject that no one really is comfortable talking about yet does have a major impact in the world of standardized testing and always has. The SAT test... is easily coverted to IQ scores and here is a link to show you the connections:http://www.iqcomparisonsite.com/SATIQ.aspx

IQ has alway been a touchy subject in the world of standardized testing because it is influenced by many factors...race, gender, socio-ecconomic factors.... that have and are still in play..... take a look here:http://www.blackexcel.org/sat_act_by_group_2006.html

Here is a link to average SAT scores...and please remember not all kids even take this test.....http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/scores/understandin...

Compare these averages by the averages by race and SES and you have a problem.

How about college addmissions: Here Harvard's scores: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/collegeprofiles/p/harvard_profile.htm

The theory of multiple intelligences was developed in 1983 by Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University. It suggests that the traditional notion of intelligence, based on I.Q. testing, is far too limited. Instead, Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences to account for a broader range of human potential in children and adults. These intelligences are:

Linguistic intelligence ("word smart"):
Logical-mathematical intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
Spatial intelligence ("picture smart")
Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence ("body smart")
Musical intelligence ("music smart")
Interpersonal intelligence ("people smart")
Intrapersonal intelligence ("self smart")
Naturalist intelligence ("nature smart")

We seem quickly headed backwards with all we know about the use of testing on human beings. Instead of expanding our notions of "smart" we seem to be narrowing them once again to linguistic and mathematical intelligence.

We have been down this road before. It is a road that limits rather than expands, that narrows rather then broadens, that closes doors for some and opens doors for others.

Wondering... why is this happening now? What is going on that has made this such a critical issue in todays world?

be well.... mike