Re: Standardized testing
Pat Thompson (Pat.Thompson@sdsu.edu <Pat.Thompson@sdsu.edu>)
Thu, 30 Nov 1995 11:20:17 -0800
>Good luck to your local school system in developing an
>equitable yet effective sscreening process. What is their
>conjecture regarding their recent testing tool? Do they
>think it was meaningless and gave random results>?
The test is the Raven Progressive Matrix Test. It is normed worldwide. It
is not a fly-by-night test. But it's pretty useluss as a screen for
admission to programs for the gifted.
I think we disagree on the point of "gifted" programs. Some see admission
to a GATE program as a "stamp of excellence" regardless of personal
characteristics like hard work, persistence, reflectiveness, positive
attitude toward learning, etc. I see placement (*not* admission) to a
gifted program as nothing more than grouping for effective instruction. The
point of schooling, let us not forget, is that students learn whatever we
intend they learn (interpreted as narrowly or broadly as you please) as
best they can, and if grouping serves that purpose, then use it.
But don't stamp people as "gifted" or "retarded" or "learning impaired",
especially when that stamp could be otherwise with appropriate intervention
and especially if that stamp comes independently of how they actually
perform by some criterion of achievement.
Pat Thompson
USPS-Mail: Patrick W. Thompson
Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education
San Diego State University
6475 Alvarado Road, Suite 206
San Diego, CA 92120
E-Mail: Pat.Thompson@sdsu.edu <Pat.Thompson@sdsu.edu>
Telephone: 619-594-2363
Fax: 619-594-1581