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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Ms. Jenkins, (and other list members),</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Thanks in advance for pointing me in the
right direction.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Dan Carscallen</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
mjhsteam-bounces@lists.fsr.com [mailto:mjhsteam-bounces@lists.fsr.com] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Margaret C. Jenkins<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Monday,
November 10, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>3:23 PM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> mjhsteam@lists.fsr.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Mjhsteam] FW: Opposition
to Integrated Science Test</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Dear Parents, </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>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. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Mr. Kleinert has
suggest that interested parents communicate with the Board of Education by </span></font><font color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'>November 14, 2008</span></font><font
color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'> 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. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Peggy Jenkins</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Contact information:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Mike Rush Executive Director of the
SBOE- <a href="mailto:mike.rush@osbe.idaho.gov"
title="mailto:mike.rush@osbe.idaho.gov">mike.rush@osbe.idaho.gov</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tracie Bent Planning, Policy and HR
Officer- <a href="mailto:tracie.bent@osbe.idaho.gov"
title="mailto:tracie.bent@osbe.idaho.gov">tracie.bent@osbe.idaho.gov</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Board Members: <a
href="mailto:board@osbe.idaho.gov" title="mailto:board@osbe.idaho.gov">board@osbe.idaho.gov</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Milford</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'> Terrell, President</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Paul Agidius, Vice President</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Sue Thilo, Secretary</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Blake Hall, Member</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Kenneth Edmunds, Member</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Richard Westerberg, Member</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Roderic Lewis, Member</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Tom Luna, Ex-Officio Member</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Mailing Address: </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Post Office Box 83720</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Idaho</span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>83720-0037</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Physical Address:</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>650 West State Street</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Boise</span></font><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>Idaho</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Fax: 208-334-2632</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Main SBOE office telephone:
208-334-2270</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 color="#1f497d"
face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Margaret
C. Jenkins [mailto:peggy@jenkinsresearch.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>Monday,
November 10, 2008</span></font><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> </span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>3:07 PM</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'mike.rush@osbe.idaho.gov';
'tracie.bent@osbe.idaho.gov'; 'board@osbe.idaho.gov'<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Opposition to Integrated
Science Test</span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Dear Board and Interested Staff,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>I am the parent of a Ninth
Grader at </span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Moscow</span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font><font size=3
face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Junior
High School</span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> in </span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Moscow</span></font><font
size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>, </span></font><font
size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Idaho</span></font><font
size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>.
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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>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 </span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Moscow</span></font><font
size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font><font
size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>School
District</span></font><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> 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. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Thank you for your
consideration.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Bell MT"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT"'>Peggy Jenkins</span></font></p>
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