[Mjhsteam] FW: Opposition to Integrated Science Test

[Dan Carscallen]

Ms. Jenkins, (and other list members),

 

I'm a little slow on the uptake here, but I am curious as to what is
actually in the test before I come down on a side.

 

Is there an example somewhere (online or otherwise) of what the test the
State Board is proposing will look like?  As you said in your letter, a
well-rounded knowledge of all the sciences is something we should strive for
in our students.  I would hope any student would be able to retain the
basics that probably should be tested for, just like the basics of grammar
and mathematics.  But, if this proposed test means a student is going to
have to memorize the placement of the internal organs of a frog and the
atomic weight of unobtanium, that might be a tad too specific.

 

Thanks in advance for pointing me in the right direction.

 

Dan Carscallen

 

-----Original Message-----
From: mjhsteam-bounces at lists.fsr.com [mailto:mjhsteam-bounces at lists.fsr.com]
On Behalf Of Margaret C. Jenkins
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 3:23 PM
To: mjhsteam at lists.fsr.com
Subject: [Mjhsteam] FW: Opposition to Integrated Science Test

 

Dear Parents, 

 

Mr. Kleinert emailed several days ago to inform parents about the State
Board of Education's plan to make all students pass an integrated "high
stakes science test" in order to graduate from high school.  They are
planning a proposal that would make the test mandatory for this year's Ninth
Graders.  

 

Mr. Kleinert has suggest that interested parents communicate with the Board
of Education by November 14, 2008 concerning the science test.  The letter I
wrote appears below.  If you think the test is a bad idea and want to weigh
in, you can borrow words or ideas from my letter if you like.  

 

 

Peggy Jenkins

 

Contact information:

 

Mike Rush Executive Director of the SBOE- mike.rush at osbe.idaho.gov

 

Tracie Bent Planning, Policy and HR Officer- tracie.bent at osbe.idaho.gov

 

Board Members: board at osbe.idaho.gov

Milford Terrell, President

Paul Agidius, Vice President

Sue Thilo, Secretary

Blake Hall, Member

Kenneth Edmunds, Member

Richard Westerberg, Member

Roderic Lewis, Member

Tom Luna, Ex-Officio Member

 

Mailing Address: 

Post Office Box 83720

Boise, Idaho 83720-0037

 

Physical Address:

650 West State Street

Boise, Idaho

 

Fax: 208-334-2632

 

Main SBOE office telephone: 208-334-2270

 

 

From: Margaret C. Jenkins [mailto:peggy at jenkinsresearch.com] 
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 3:07 PM
To: 'mike.rush at osbe.idaho.gov'; 'tracie.bent at osbe.idaho.gov';
'board at osbe.idaho.gov'
Subject: Opposition to Integrated Science Test

 

Dear Board and Interested Staff,

 

I am the parent of a Ninth Grader at Moscow Junior High School in Moscow,
Idaho.  I am writing to convey my opposition to the State Board of
Education's plan to require an integrated science test for graduation from
Idaho Public Schools.

 

I am a strong proponent of more rigorous instruction for our students, and
agree that they need a good foundation in the sciences.  However, I believe
the best way to teach science is by providing an array of courses in Life
Science, Physical Science, Earth Science and Biology; as the Moscow School
District does now.  The fields of science are rich and diverse, and do not
lend themselves to a single integrated examination.  If you impose this test
requirement, the result will be less content for our students.  They will
need to sacrifice time learning and doing science to take refresher courses
on materials they covered in past years and semesters.  

 

Our students have a very short school year and already lose many hours on
standardized testing thanks to NCLB.  For you to impose additional review
and testing days will put our students at a greater disadvantage when
compared with students from states with more resources and instruction days.
I don't believe that any benefit you could achieve through a standardized
science  test could justify teaching less science to our students.

 

Thank you for your consideration.

 

Peggy Jenkins

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