in the collection
U. S. Youth Engage in Arne Duncan's Favorite Season of the Year
Some students taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test found themselves suddenly logged out during the test; others discovered that the test would not accept correct answers. "I was kinda bummed," said 11th grader Sven Finkel, "until I realized that the Minnesota school calendar lists all days in April as April Fools' Day."
Minnesota Department of Education officials expressed surprise that students claimed to experience glitches in taking the state online assessments. "We don't see a problem. And if anyone claims there's a problem, we'll investigate their motives for pointing it out."
Meanwhile, other issues with online standardized tests are cropping up around the nation. In New Hampshire, students were only able to input their answers if the tests were given on odd numbered days, and in Florida, students whose last names begin with A,B,C, or D discovered that the computers would only register their choice if students selected answers corresponding to the first letter of their last name. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush responded with characteristic wisdom. "Glitch happens," he said. "But my brother has an app for that."
In California, Governor Jerry Brown warned that test refusers would miss out on chances to win "really neat prizes" awarded randomly to test takers who last the course, filling in all the blank bubbles. He assured California taxpayers that these prizes come from a special fund set up by the Pearson Foundation and not from state coffers.
Perhaps the most exciting testing glitch so far in the 2013 season occurred in Georgia. Students in Perdue County found that marking ten correct answers in a row caused their computers to explode. Perdue County superintendent Cal Purvis noted, "Well, it was a problem for some kids, but for everyone else, it was just an early July Fourth. We broke out the hot dogs." Commented middle school teacher Sandra Everly, "I was in the hallway when I heard the sound, but I didn't think anything of it. I mean� Mayor Wiley goes duck hunting in the sump pond behind the school. We�re sorta used to it."
Conducting a long-anticipated, heavily-advertised, in-depth interview, NBC News Special Correspondent, Chelsea Clinton asked Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, "America wants to know: What's your favorite season of the year?" Duncan replied that his favorite season is testing season because "American kids can show what they can do." He added, "In a competitive, knowledge-based economy, we must set high expectations for our children." When she asked about testing mishaps, Duncan said, "In a competitive, knowledge-based economy, we must set high expectations for our children."
Breaking with tradition, Clinton invited viewers to call in questions. The first caller asked why so many schools in poverty areas in Chicago are being shut down. Duncan explained, "In a competitive, knowledge-based economy, we must set high expectations for our children." Another caller asked about states withdrawing from Common Core testing. Duncan explained, "In a competitive, knowledge-based economy, we must set high expectations for our children."
On Sunday, the New York Times editorial read, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is right: Testing season is an exciting time of year. Research shows and all of corporate American agrees that in a competitive, knowledge-based economy, we must set high expectations for our children.
Eggplant
2013-04-30
INDEX OF THE EGGPLANT
