AGBFM@ASUACAD.BITNET (Barbara Martinez) (02/22/90)
AGD2M, We are already beginning to see the trend which you suggest. Many
schools require that students "pass" certain tests (standardized tests)
before they are promoted to the next grade or school. (Promotion based
on "outcome measures"). But what are these tests really measureing and
what are our kids really learning? I believe that these tests measure
things like teachers' ability to teach to a test and schools' ability to
help (by a variety of means) students "pass to the next grade. I don't think
this can really be counted as educatng students--such approaches don't tt
teach students how to "think" or analyze. The term "measure outcomes" sounds
good (like something that can prove to the public that schools are or are not
doing a good job) but in practiace it is a pharse.