Contents of this issue:
- U.S. won't participate in international math and science test
- Grosse Pointe teacher may be dismissed for anger problems
- National test measures students' knowledge of economics
- Judge rules in favor of Detroit school closings
- Zeeland to open innovative, international school
- Comment and win book money
U.S. WON'T PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL MATH AND SCIENCE TEST
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. has withdrawn from an international
test used to measure students' competence in math and science on
a global scale, according to MSNBC.
The test, called TIMSS, or Trends in Mathematics and Science
Study, is taken by high school students enrolled in advanced math
and science courses like algebra, geometry, calculus and physics.
The last test was administered in 1995 and the U.S. scored better
than only two countries: Cyprus and South Africa, MSNBC reported.
Mark. S. Schneider, commissioner for the U.S. Department of
Education's National Center for Education Statistics, said the
U.S. decided to withdraw after three other countries decided not
to participate. Armenia, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands,
Norway, Russia, Slovenia and Sweden will still administer the
test to its students, according to MSNBC.
"We looked at the countries who are participating, our scarce
resources and our overextended staff," Schneider said, according
to MSNBC, "and we decided to give it a pass."
Administering the test to 4,000 students would have cost the
government between $3 million and $10 million, MSNBC reported.
American Mathematical Society Executive Director John Ewing said
the U.S. probably withdrew because it was expecting to perform as
poorly as it did in 1995.
"Maybe they don't want to hear more bad news," Ewing told MSNBC.
Ewing also commented on the importance of knowing where the
country stands so that it can improve its math and science
education.
"It's pennywise and pound foolish," Ewing told MSNBC. "It is
crucial that we know what our most talented students can do and
how we are serving them. I can't think of anything more important
than having data on how you are training your future
mathematicians and scientists."
Testing advocates are currently in the process of searching for
private funding for the test, according to MSNBC.
SOURCE:
MSNBC, "U.S. Drops Out of Global Math Test," Aug. 9, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20205125/site/newsweek/
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Asian Food for Thought,"
Dec. 10, 2004
https://www.mackinac.org/6905
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Undereducated Today,
Outsourced Tomorrow?" Nov. 16, 2004
https://www.mackinac.org/6886
GROSSE POINTE TEACHER MAY BE DISMISSED FOR ANGER PROBLEMS
GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. — A choir teacher at Grosse Pointe
South High School may face dismissal after receiving a
misdemeanor assault conviction for road rage that seems to
parallel some documented cases of aggressiveness in the
classroom, according to The Detroit News.
Ellen Bowen has a number of complaints and reprimands in her file
dating back to 1994 and she has been disciplined at least five
times since 2004, The News reported.
Bowen has received reprimands for, among other things, cutting a
student's hair, calling a student a derogatory name, accusing a
custodian of installing a video camera, threatening to bring a
shotgun to school in order to improve behavior, throwing a
stapler at a student and implying in front of her class that a
student who left early was pregnant, The News reported.
In 1999, then Grosse Pointe South principal, Arthur Miller,
worked to develop a behavioral improvement plan for Bowen. This
past year, she was suspended for one day by Principal D. Allen
Diver, according to The News.
Bowen, who makes $92,000 a year, is currently suspended with pay
and is not allowed on school property until the board of
education makes a decision about whether to fire her. Standing by
her side are members of the community who are involved in her
musical productions. Hundreds of supporters, calling themselves
"Friends of Ellen" are listed on a Web site which also includes
photos and testimonials, The News reported.
"I found her a remarkably talented teacher, a demanding
professional, dedicated to her students and their education,"
Bowen's lawyer, James R. Andary told The News. "It is unfortunate
this has reached a frenzy that never should have happened in
Grosse Pointe."
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, "Files detail teacher's temper," Aug. 10, 2007
https://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007708100380
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Public school teacher accused of
standing on student," July 24, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8806
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "Parents Still Have an Option
to Check Kids' Safety," Feb. 2, 2006
https://www.mackinac.org/7574
Michigan Education Digest, "Some convicted felons still working
in schools," July 5, 2006
https://www.educationreport.org/7807
NATIONAL TEST MEASURES STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE OF ECONOMICS
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials are encouraged by the first National
Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test in economics,
according to The Detroit News.
The results show that 42 percent of 12th graders are
"economically literate." Only one out of 10 students could
analyze the impact of the unemployment rate on the economy. Four
out of 10 students could explain why domestic industries would be
interested in pushing for tariffs. Sixty percent of students
could identify factors that increase the national debt, The News
reported.
"While there is clear room for improvement, the results are not
discouraging," Darvin Winick, chairman of the National Assessment
Governing Board, said in a statement, according to The News. "Given the number of students who finish high school with a
limited vocabulary, not reading well, and weak in math, the
results may be as good as or better than we should expect."
The Wall Street Journal also finds the results promising and
thinks students have a better grasp on economic principles than
elected officials.
"Maybe Congress should make this test, or one like it, mandatory
for all Members," the editorial stated.
Approximately 11,500 students from 590 public and private schools
participated in the exam.
SOURCES:
The Detroit News, "High school seniors do OK on economics exam,"
Aug. 9, 2007
https://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/SCHOOLS/708090348/1026
The Wall Street Journal (subscription only), "The Kids Are All
Right," Aug. 10, 2007
https://www.wsj.com/article/SB118670972878093865.html
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "NAEP results show students performing
poorly in civics," May 22, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8617
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, "How Reliable Are Michigan
High School Economics Textbooks?" June 1, 1999
https://www.mackinac.org/1803
JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF DETROIT SCHOOL CLOSINGS
DETROIT — A Wayne County judge ruled in favor of the Detroit
Public Schools and will allow the district to proceed with a plan
to close schools, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The board of education voted earlier this year to close 33
schools to compensate for the loss of more than 60,000 students
over 10 years. The school closings are a part of a state-mandated
deficit elimination plan, the Free Press reported.
BAMN, or By Any Means Necessary, filed a lawsuit claiming the
closing of nine of those schools was arbitrary, discriminated
against Latino families, and would lead to gang violence and
overcrowding. Maria Orozco, a plaintiff and parent of two DPS
students who attended a school scheduled to close, refuses to
send her children to the school mandated to her by the district.
"I'm not going to allow the district to manipulate my children,"
Orozco said through an interpreter, according to the Free Press.
BAMN plans to appeal the ruling, the Free Press reported.
SOURCE:
Detroit Free Press, "Judge upholds schools' closings,"
Aug. 11, 2007
https://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070811/NEWS01/708110314/1003
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Parents sue Detroit Public Schools to
keep buildings open," June 12, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8639
Michigan Education Report, "DPS enrollment down by thousands,"
Feb. 23, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8237
Michigan Education Digest, "Detroit school board votes to close
34 schools," April 10, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8373
ZEELAND TO OPEN INNOVATIVE, INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
ZEELAND, Mich. — The Zeeland Public Schools, in response to
demand by Holland-area businesses, will open a year-round
elementary program for children who temporarily move overseas
because of a parent's job assignment, according to The Grand
Rapids Press.
The K-5 program is financed by area businesses, included Haworth
Inc., which is paying the program director's salary as well as
donating a mobile classroom. Students who temporarily move
overseas will be enrolled in the school and will receive lessons
through teleconferencing and through the Internet, The Press
reported.
Not all students will be traveling, but the school curriculum
will be taught from a global perspective.
"From the parents' perspective in business and industry, they see
that it's becoming much more global, and they want their children
prepared for a global economy," Kendra DeYoung, the school's
program director, told The Press.
The program will operate out of an existing elementary school.
The Michigan Department of Education has decided it can fund the
education of residents who are temporarily living in other
countries. The school is working to guarantee funding for 13
students who are currently living in Mexico and Africa, The Press
reported.
SOURCE:
The Grand Rapids Press, "Innocademy set to open in Zeeland,"
Aug. 9, 2007
https://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-37/1186667885230890.xml&coll=6
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Several Metro Detroit districts add
Mandarin to curriculum," July 31, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8844
Michigan Education Digest, "Saginaw County schools face
competition from new charter," July 24, 2007
https://www.educationreport.org/8806
COMMENT AND WIN BOOK MONEY
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MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST is a service of Michigan Education
Report (
https://www.educationreport.org),
a quarterly newspaper
published by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy
(
https://www.mackinac.org),
a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan
research and educational institute.
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