Time to switch things up

Every morning, without fail, I eat my breakfast while reading the local newspaper.  Over the past few years, I’ve become a bit of a news junkie.  (Actually, I like the comics and tend to go there first.  Then, national and after that, local.  I’m not much of a sports person, so I leave that for my son.)

Apparently, SOMEONE’s been listening to my ranting banter about how SATs and ACTs are not a TRUE indicator of a person’s ability to succeed in college.  Wake Forest, located in Winston-Salem, NC, has decided to not require SATs or ACTs as an indicator of a person’s ability to survive college.

“Wake Forest is making college entrance examinations, such as the SAT and ACT, optional for admission, becoming the first top 30 national university to adopt such a policy. A prospective student’s classroom performance, writing ability, extracurricular activities and evidence of character and talent will remain the most important criteria for admission.”  

Well, bully for them, I say.  Somewhere in the article that they have posted on their Admissions page, they say something to the affect that the standardized college entrance exams are like “barriers” that prevent otherwise hard-working and excelling students from meeting their (high) standards.  Therefore, they’re opening the door for poor smart kids to enter their college.  However, that leaves the rich stupid kids with an alumni relative sidelined… right?

I would like to see, ideally, colleges and universities make SATs and ACTs optional.  I would really like to see SATs and ACTs and every other standardized test that supposedly measures a student’s ability to be torn up and never used again.  I have my reasons, you know, having taught in both public and private high schools… I have seen how stressful these tests are, how they are NOT a true indicator of a person’s ability, and are a ridiculous waste of paper, time, and money.

Listen, there are kids in high schools all across America who are not good at math, but are not stupid kids.  In fact, they are quite bright but feel incumbered by algebra and geometry (as well as the rest of the higher level maths), which in all honesty, is not required in life unless you are going to be an engineer, doctor, or physicist.  Seeing that colleges and universities have yet to create a super math teacher, one who can teach ANY kind of math to ANY kind of student, math scores have plummeted.  While I was in high school, my friends were taking trig and calculus during our junior and senior years of high school while I struggled through algebra and geometry.  I barely passed both classes, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying.  My junior year, I spent a good portion of my afterschool time waiting at my math teacher’s office so that she could give me extra help.  As nice and patient as she was, my brain rejected algebra like a person rejects a kidney.  No matter how hard I tried, numbers and letters did not equal more letters and numbers.  My senior year, Mr. Pete Puma (whom I’ve written about before) refused to give extra help to those lost in his geometry class.  I made it out of there by the skin of my teeth.  In college (the first time), I had to take statistics with a man who frequently wore hot air balloon sweaters and reminisced about his time at Woodstock.  He did not require a textbook, which was fine with me.  I worked two full-time jobs to be able to afford the tuition–one less book meant I could eat.  By the end of THAT course, I barely dragged myself out with a D.  A few years later, I took a non-credit pre-algebra course at the local community college with a former NASA rocket scientist who opened my eyes to algebra.  I remember sitting in the class one night and it clicked.  I remember yelling, “OH MY GAWD, I GET IT!!!”  That outburst didn’t thrill four people in my class who DIDN’T get it; however, I was thrilled because after so many failed attempts at trying to “get” math, I finally did.  So, the following year, when I went to a 4-year liberal arts college, I remembered what he had taught me… and aced my required math, and several semesters later (while nursing a torn achilles and hopping on some serious pain meds), I survived my Probability and Stats class, scoring an impressive B.

My point is this– colleges and universities should not make a math-centered standardized test a determining factor in admitting students to their institutions when they have professors who cannot teach math to students… as well as not properly preparing future math teachers how to teach math to EVERYONE.

(If you are a math education major, this is key… you must learn methods of doing the math that are easy to understand… teach to the middle of your class’ abilities, not the top.  And, remember that most people have this mental block with math… so be patient and compassionate without acting condescending towards them.  Trust me, it’s not their fault that they do not “get” math like you do.  You are the chosen one… most people are not.)

So, where does this leave #1 son (who inherited my math-tardedness)?  The colleges and universities who have dropped the SAT/ACT mandatory admissions requirement also have in place this (sometimes unreasonably) high standard that says something like… ok, you don’t NEED the SAT/ACT anymore, but we’re not changing the rest of our admissions policy… which usually requires a student to possess higher than a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale; or 4.0 on a 5.0 scale for honors students).  For kids whose GPAs have been drastically altered BECAUSE of poor math and science grades, that is STILL an unrealistic requirement.

I’m also not saying that all colleges and universities should have an open door policy.  I like to compete and therefore I think that it’s healthy to HAVE some level of academic competition… as long as it doesn’t detract from the big picture.

And, in 2008, more people were attending colleges and universities than in 1958.  As a matter of fact, there are more people getting Masters degrees than 10 years ago.  Having a MA now means as much as having a BA, except you get paid more money (except if you work in a Catholic school).  In fact, I know that all of the public schools that I have applied to recently will NOT be calling me for an interview because of that fact–I cost too much money.  For what they could be paying me, a district can afford a secretary and a first-year teacher with a BA/BS.  (It’s a fact.)

I would like to see more prominent universities/colleges open their doors to the less privileged kids who may not be able to afford SAT prep courses and tutors, but show promise.  I would LOVE to see the IVY league schools and the Top 10 (etc) demonstrate the notion that education IS accessible if you want it.  I do not want to see all universities and colleges fling their doors open and say, “It’s ALL your’s, come and get it” without setting some SORT of standards.

I have explained this to my son… over and OVER and over and OVER again.  IF you WANT to attend a good school, you have to show them that you are worth the time and effort.  You can’t expect a good school to look at your transcripts (laden with Cs, Ds and Fs) and expect them to say, “Oh, well, you’ll definitely do better in college… don’t WORRY about it,” because they won’t.

But, I’ve also told him my story… a girl who struggled to get out of high school with super low math scores, mostly low science scores, and pretty decent English and History scores… a girl who joined the marching band because that’s the only extra-curricular activity her parents would let her do outside of school (and even THAT was limited to NO Sunday competitions and NO band events when my mother wanted me to stay home… which I fought tooth-and-nail)… a girl who, for the first two years of h.s., was a punching bag for an angry girl and her gaggle of drop-outs… a girl who did not have parents supporting her or helping her with her work when she needed it.  He has a better support system than I did.  We help him, when he asks, as much as we can.  I offer to proof-read his papers/essays and help him with his projects when asked.  I have sent him to a SAT prep course even though he felt that it didn’t help.  I wish I had more money so that I could get him a private tutor, but I can’t.  I did pay teachers to tutor him in math from 3rd grade until 7th… EVERY summer without fail.

So, now’s when I leave it in his hands… failing grades and all.  Because he has to prove to me that he can succeed without my constant nagging and peering over his shoulder… because when he’s in college (provided he goes away to school), I won’t be there to tell him to crack open his books… to study… to work on his research paper… to wash his dirty clothes.  It’ll be up to him.  And, as much as I want to grab him and paste a book into his hands, I can’t force him.  He and my h.s. self were a lot alike.  And, if I ended up excelling (although at the time, I was a non-traditional student) in college, so can he.

My theory: some people peek in high school and other’s afterwards.  (i.e. cheerleaders and football players vs. everyone else)  I keep reminding him that he hasn’t peeked yet… and perhaps his time will be while he’s in college (I hope).

But, he also knows that a failing semester or two will require a return to home and attendance at a local community college until he decides whether or not achieving success means screwing around or doing better than well.

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Monday morning update:  While #3 son was telling me something about our cat this morning, a plastic (heavy) platter slipped from the drain board and landed square on his pinky toe.  Whoever did the dishes, needs to apologize to him.  He went to school today with a purple and green toe that ouchies when he walks (but obviously not THAT bad or he would not have run around the house while I was trying to usher him downstairs to the garage to leave).

Monday morning update update:  Apparently, while posting at Politics and Religion last night, my cat decided to do a diahrea doodle on the carpet next to his litter box IN the batcave.  I nearly died from the fumes, but was able to drag myself up the steps by my fingernails.  I don’t know what’s wrong with him… he’s been eating the SAME food since we got him.  (I have also spied him squatting on the litter box while SMILING.  IF I had my camera on hand, I would’ve taken a picture.  I have never seen a cat smile before.)  After we removed the tarp that’s under the litter box (we so smaht) and washed the removable rim (naaasty), I must’ve unloaded an entire can of Lysol Neutra-Air …  things were almost back to (a normal) smell.  By the way, Lysol doesn’t work very well.  The Batcave had this weird aroma of nasty poopies and “fresh scent.”  When I pick up #3 son, we’re going to hit W-mart and get OUST surface and air and see if that helps.

LAST QUESTION:  Where can I get a BIGGER litter box?  I have the standard size, which would be fine if my cat wasn’t so damned long and tall; however, I don’t think that it is the right size for him (he sometimes has to stand 1/2 outside-1/2 inside while doing his business) and I have looked EVERYWHERE for a longer/bigger box.  Help?

 

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