Minnesota students fall short in science, test scores show

Students' performance on Minnesota's science exam rose in the test's second year, but more than half of the test takers statewide remain unable to meet the standards.

[Chebama]

Clearly they just need more money.

[mmm]

What good is all this testing if the teachers are just teaching for the test and not all of the material.

[Outsidelookingin]

Maybe if that teacher who heads the union would spend more time in the classroom rather than spending all that money on TV commercials begging for more money the kids would benefit. Tenure = protection for substandard teachers and I guess the test scores are showing it.

[Citizen Tom]

Several years ago, a school district in Florida decided to refuse to pass 6th graders to 7th grade unless they reached 6th grade level equivalency in all subject areas. What they didn't consider was that grade level equivalencies are based on the 50th %ile-in other words the average score. Half the students on average score above this level and half below. Many, many students weren't passed based on this. Now we are looking at this Minnesota science test report which seems to indicate that about half of the students are passing and scoring at or above grade level equivalency. Am I interpreting the results incorrectly or is this where they should be statistically?

[Taxmemore]

You just know that the guy who runs the teachers' union, Education Minnesota, is on the phone this morning with their ad agency ordering up a fresh batch of tv commercials that will tell us all this could have been avoided if only we gave them more money.

[Taxmemore]

mmm wrote:

What good is all this testing if the teachers are just teaching for the test and not all of the material.

Apparently these results would indicate that they aren't doing a very good job at "teaching for the test" either.

[Bob the Bilderberg]

It's because liberals don't believe in science.

[Biker]

Schools gladly accept adult volunteers to help out in classrooms. How many of you complainers about the amount of money going to education have actually spent time in schools so you have a first hand experience of the jobs teachers are doing? Yep, thought so.

[Taxmemore]

Biker wrote:

Schools gladly accept adult volunteers to help out in classrooms. How many of you complainers about the amount of money going to education have actually spent time in schools so you have a first hand experience of the jobs teachers are doing? Yep, thought so.

Uh, I actually spend quite a few hours working in my kids' schools each week and my wife volunteers two days a week--smart guy.

[Taxmemore]

Biker wrote:

Schools gladly accept adult volunteers to help out in classrooms. How many of you complainers about the amount of money going to education have actually spent time in schools so you have a first hand experience of the jobs teachers are doing? Yep, thought so.

Oh, and did I mention that my daughter and sister are teachers as well and are very familiar with the thuggery and protectionist workrules the union foists on the system?

[Biker]

Taxmemore wrote:

<quoted text> Oh, and did I mention that my daughter and sister are teachers as well and are very familiar with the thuggery and protectionist workrules the union foists on the system?

Your comment is fascinating to me (I'm not being sarcastic). How do the unions effect your daughter's and sister's ability to do a good job? Please explain, I want to learn more.

[Mrs R]

Chebama wrote:

Clearly they just need more money.

Mr. Chai Bama, that is an excellent point. How long will we as Minnesotans be so gullible and ignorant that we continually vote in Republicans who do nothing but cut education? This is a sad day for Minnesota. We need to break the cycle of poverty and that is proving hard to do. Because of the lack of educational funding, our students are ignorant and will continue to vote in Republicans once they become adults because they are not educated. It's very sad.

[SUBURBAN WHITE GUY]

Mrs R wrote:

<quoted text>
Mr. Chai Bama, that is an excellent point. How long will we as Minnesotans be so gullible and ignorant that we continually vote in Republicans who do nothing but cut education? This is a sad day for Minnesota. We need to break the cycle of poverty and that is proving hard to do. Because of the lack of educational funding, our students are ignorant and will continue to vote in Republicans once they become adults because they are not educated. It's very sad.

Obviously you are not the brightest bulb in the light fixture! All more money would do, is allow the union to demand more money for the inept union teachers. A decade ago Kansas City had the higest expenditure per student in the U.S., do to a court order. After years of this waste of money, the courts ended the order, as it had not altered the education levels. Your idea is a typical democrat response of throw more money at the problem!. It has not worked for the stimulous package and will not work here!

[Vikings Fan]

Mrs R wrote:

<quoted text>
Mr. Chai Bama, that is an excellent point. How long will we as Minnesotans be so gullible and ignorant that we continually vote in Republicans who do nothing but cut education? This is a sad day for Minnesota. We need to break the cycle of poverty and that is proving hard to do. Because of the lack of educational funding, our students are ignorant and will continue to vote in Republicans once they become adults because they are not educated. It's very sad.

God your an idiot! Our current teachers are indoctrinating our students in liberal B.S. So you are wrong if you think young people are voting republican. Budget cuts in education? We can throw all of our tax money at our kids for their education, but it still boils down to the parent at home who tells their child that education is of the utmost importance. If I blame society for all of my problems, and force feed that to my kids also, they see no reason to learn. How about we quit building expensive schools, quit paying a school supt. 4 times what a teacher makes. Get back to teaching Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. Mrs R get a clue!

[OLDTIMER]

What is the big surprise? In spite of all the home grown "quality of life" propaganda, put out by natives of this state, Minnesota schools are mediocre at best. Each year Newsweek publishes a list of the top 1000 high schools in the U.S.. In 2008 Minnesota had one in the top 500 at about 450 and only about 3 in the top 1000. This year they improvrd and had several in the top 500, but states like Virginia, Maryland and Florida, had 3-4 times as many, even when adjusted for population. Florida had more in the top 25 than any state in the nation. I know Minnesota usually is near the top in the nation when it comes to % of students graduating from High School, but this means nothing, when you are graduating substandard students. The Teachers union is the bigest roadblock to providing a superior education to our students! Texas allows people who are proven experts in their fields to teach,high school, even if they do not have education degrees. Thus retired NASA engineers, teach in some of their schools. Minnesota needs to open the doors to folks from 3M, Alliant, and other top industrial companies, and allow them to teach!
Lastly, Mahtomedi High School should be studied and copied. Obviously they are doing something right. when they are doing so much better than comparible schools such as Woodbury . White Bear Lake, and Stillwater, when it comes to science education.

[Yea Right]

Bob the Bilderberg wrote:

It's because liberals don't believe in science.

Liberals don't believe in science? Who are people pushing for creationism and prayer in public schools? Like I want my kid learning about talking serpents and Adam and Eve forbidden apple biting in a public high school science class....

[Horass Mann]

Biker wrote:

<quoted text>Your comment is fascinating to me (I'm not being sarcastic). How do the unions effect your daughter's and sister's ability to do a good job? Please explain, I want to learn more.

Bet the unions don't teach how to use "Affect" and "Effect" correctly.

[Scrotumayor]

What a wonderful legacy for the beloved "Dr. C!"
Disgraceful.
Disband the unions and teach the kids right.

Washington DC has the highest $$$/student and the schools are abysmal. The new head of the schools (an Asian American, BTW) is trying hard to change things, but she is being fought at every step by the teachers union (NOT Asian Americans, BTW).

Say, didn't Dr C come to us from DC?!

You get what (and Whom) you pay for.
GIGO!

[Jeff Eastsider]

Bob the Bilderberg wrote:

It's because liberals don't believe in science.

Bob, how can you say that when AL Gore invented the internet and made millions touting global warming! I guess you could call it "wierd science", that they believe in.

[High School Rank]

OLDTIMER wrote:

What is the big surprise? In spite of all the home grown "quality of life" propaganda, put out by natives of this state, Minnesota schools are mediocre at best. Each year Newsweek publishes a list of the top 1000 high schools in the U.S.. In 2008 Minnesota had one in the top 500 at about 450 and only about 3 in the top 1000. This year they improvrd and had several in the top 500, but states like Virginia, Maryland and Florida, had 3-4 times as many, even when adjusted for population. Florida had more in the top 25 than any state in the nation. I know Minnesota usually is near the top in the nation when it comes to % of students graduating from High School, but this means nothing, when you are graduating substandard students. The Teachers union is the bigest roadblock to providing a superior education to our students! Texas allows people who are proven experts in their fields to teach,high school, even if they do not have education degrees. Thus retired NASA engineers, teach in some of their schools. Minnesota needs to open the doors to folks from 3M, Alliant, and other top industrial companies, and allow them to teach!
Lastly, Mahtomedi High School should be studied and copied. Obviously they are doing something right. when they are doing so much better than comparible schools such as Woodbury . White Bear Lake, and Stillwater, when it comes to science education.

I found a link that supports your point:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/...