Kids in Florida Are Dumb
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The Florida Department of Education lowered the performance level standard on a state writing exam after only 27 percent of fourth graders passed, MyFoxOrlando reports.
The decision to lower the standard from a four to a three was made in an emergency conference call Tuesday. The test scores range from zero to six.
Fourth grade teachers say the test inadequately reflected their pupils' writing abilities. They say the main reason the students did poorly was the test question was too hard.
According to the Florida Department of Education, the prompt, or essay topic, for fourth graders in the state of Florida this year was, "Suppose you or someone else had a chance to ride a camel. Imagine what happens on this camel ride. Write a story about what happens on this camel ride."
Some teachers say the question was unfair, arguing it may be unrealistic to expect fourth-graders to know what a camel is.
"It was just a very poor prompt, when do we see camels in Central Florida," said Ann Egitto, a language arts teacher at Rock Lake Middle School according to MyFoxOrlando.
Lisa Wright, a teacher at Idyllwilde Elementary School, agrees. "A lot fourth graders in my school probably don't even know what a camel really is," she said according to MyFoxOrlando.
However, the Department of Education told MyFoxOrlando the question was extensively reviewed and well-received by about 1,500 students who were selected to take it during a field-testing period.
They admitted they could have done a better job communicating student expectations to teachers after lowering the passing grade.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/16/fl ... z1v89Ngtd6
The decision to lower the standard from a four to a three was made in an emergency conference call Tuesday. The test scores range from zero to six.
Fourth grade teachers say the test inadequately reflected their pupils' writing abilities. They say the main reason the students did poorly was the test question was too hard.
According to the Florida Department of Education, the prompt, or essay topic, for fourth graders in the state of Florida this year was, "Suppose you or someone else had a chance to ride a camel. Imagine what happens on this camel ride. Write a story about what happens on this camel ride."
Some teachers say the question was unfair, arguing it may be unrealistic to expect fourth-graders to know what a camel is.
"It was just a very poor prompt, when do we see camels in Central Florida," said Ann Egitto, a language arts teacher at Rock Lake Middle School according to MyFoxOrlando.
Lisa Wright, a teacher at Idyllwilde Elementary School, agrees. "A lot fourth graders in my school probably don't even know what a camel really is," she said according to MyFoxOrlando.
However, the Department of Education told MyFoxOrlando the question was extensively reviewed and well-received by about 1,500 students who were selected to take it during a field-testing period.
They admitted they could have done a better job communicating student expectations to teachers after lowering the passing grade.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/16/fl ... z1v89Ngtd6
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in 4th grade i knew what a camel is. only a goofy little poop doesn't know what a camel is @ the age of a 4th grader. i have heard that florida schools are some of the worst schools in the country.
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
What we knew 30 40 50 years ago is irrelevant, obviously they are not teaching
about camels and kids know best what they experience themselves anyways,
as with all of us.
So why didn't the adults make an essay question on something
the kids could actually relate to? There could have been a budding author there
and the boat was missed.
9 Year old: What does a camel even do?
Teacher: It tells me if you're dumb or not
Was the emotional aspect in the act of being tested taken into account... :nono: You think those 4th graders know how to recognize being nervous & acknowledging within themselves the balance between letting go so they can focus?
Kids in Florida are not dumb. The teachers are! And anyone who makes a list being critical of NINE YEAR OLDS!
The score results are a reflection of the teacher, not the student!
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was like a picture
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a 4th grader may not be very bright because of 3 reasons....
1. parents are lazy and stupid
2. the school sucks ass
3. he or she has a learning disability or what have you
i cannot think of any other reasons.
florida is failing because florida is a global tourist destination and that is all they give a fuck about.
fact.
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
According to the Florida Department of Education, the prompt, or essay topic, for fourth graders in the state of Florida this year was, "Suppose you or someone else had a chance to ride a camel. Imagine what happens on this camel ride. Write a story about what happens on this camel ride."
they are asking a kid to have an imagination. simple. They are asking a kid to be a little bit creative. I really wish I could read some of the stories. The question could have been...imagine what happens on another planet, imagine what happens on the moon when you play golf...imagine meeting a movie star, imagine riding a balloon to the moon...it is a creative writing exercise...relating to the material is beside the point. I am sure they weren't going to be graded on knowledge of a camel's biology.
that being said, standardized tests are a strange way to measure the ability of the students. Another negative of trying to always treat everyone the same.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
I'd also toss in that the whole social media clusterfuck has an effect too - online rumors, back-and-forths, tweeting that you're taking a shit, stupidass abbreviations of words and the butchering of language, self-absorption - these and so much more have an impact.
And unfortunately, California is in a similar state. Lack of basic knowledge is almost a trend now.
A woman I used to work with HAD NO IDEA WHAT LEAP YEAR IS. She was in her 40s. The fuck?
a camel ... really why :?
Or maybe its the water...I dunno, but this state never ceases to amaze me with its stupidity.
My Mom is a teacher and she is glad to be retiring because she's seen a steady decline in dedicated students.
I've always theorized that there's simply too much going on down here...lots of distractions...Combine that with the ease of obtaining drugs, and these kids are becoming zombies.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
Oh yes, and the parents down here just dont care...not all, but a lot.
My god, imagination and children go hand in hand; it's a natural, I believe, unless a kid is specifically discouraged to do so.
Maybe I'm naive, but given paint, crayons, pencil and paper, books, documentaries...my mind and sense of wonder were wide open and I got in there.
(and know1, me too. And it sucks.)
if they wrote a camel swims to the moon and they wrote it well and the story was filled with humor and not many or any misspelled words the student would get a passing grade.
but they can't even mustar a bullshit short story.
bunk.
the parents are to blame as are the schools. the kids with disabilities get a pass and the kids with disabilities probably are better creative writers than the students with no disabilities. i know because i was in the learning disability classes, and boy could i write a funky story.
i will bet anyone here $5 that 4th grade eskimo students know what alligators are
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
I think creativity is stifled by the words test myself and then the apprehension
a child must feel when they have no idea what a camel is.
Now create something!
I still go back to why a camel in Florida? :wtf: of all the things
the children could be creative about ... why? Why not an alligator they know those...
adventures with an alligator
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
that is what education is though isn't it? to challenge someone, to open their mind past what they already know...if we are always simply testing and teaching what someone already knows...we will be watering our plants with gatorade in no time
I get what you are saying, it seems like the kids were set up to fail, but I wouldn't blame the elements of the test question, and I wouldn't trust too many teachers that would say that question is too hard for a 4th grader. Why did any of them pass if it was too hard
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Guess again... the numbers are no longer memorized they are stored
in the phone. If they need them they are shit out of luck.
Obviously camels are not common knowledge anymore and that doesn't bother me.
We might be pleasantly surprised at what the kids in 4th grade do know.
On a positive note... kids are pretty advanced now pertaining to technology.
Maybe camels aren't video game heros
I wonder if they can tell time the old fashioned way with all the digital clocks now?
you make a good point,
but it isn't the knowledge of a camel that worries me, it is the lack of imagination it takes to fail a question asking you to imagine. There is literally almost no wrong answer as long as you use the word camel
this is why I started the thread on our current education delivery model being way out of touch. Standardized testing and everyone being the same isn't a good thing. Education isn't one size fits all.
Good luck Florida...your future looks bright :idea:
If anyone is looking for a great recap of all things florida check out the podcast UHH YEAH DUDE. Not sure if they still do it often, but the first 50 to 75 episodes have a segment about crazy shit that happens in florida
it is pretty great
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
50 Cent doesn't know what a grapefruit is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waCF81HdKAA
If all of this wasn't so sadly pathetic I'd have to laugh.
Oh fuck it, I have to laugh anyway...
-Eddie Vedder, "Smile"
My point is that every one of these kids is twice her age. They should know what a camel is!
add test into it and the fear of failure grows quickly.
Imagination starts with the knowledge of something then expands as to
where, what, how, when, etc to a story.
Often it is from something they love or at the very least can relate to.
Also factor in that creative writing is not all children's excelling point,
maybe sadly even most these days.
and that worries me.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Stunned myself about this camel business. 9 year olds not knowing about camels? Anyway.. as hedonist said, imagination is a kid's creativity. What kid doesn't play 'make believe' (in a way adults sometimes have a hard time following!) with all kinds of crazy, off the wall scenarios? One doesn't need to 'know' to unleash creativity. I was a teaching assisant in reception/primary school for a while - kids from 4 1/2 to 11. The infant school ones (to 7) didn't need much to get them going with their writing (the older ones ones obviously - 6 & 7) and their stories. Imagination is just that - ability to be creative and 'see beyond'. Not having to base one's self on current, acquired knowledge!
What I find a bit disconcerting is lowering the performance standard to the lowest common denominator instead of upping the standards in class...
Now the title of this thread might be a bit flippant because I don't think the kids are dumb but it sure does reflect negatively on parenting, lifestyle and the education system.
I teach children and young men and women in Florida all the time.
They are not dumb.
The private school students are excellent.
The ones that are home schooled can be well-educated (or not) when they come into college.
The ones that attend public schools can be well-educated (or not) when they enter college.
Once they get there though, they either live up to the challenge or don't. The way they enter college is a reflection of their previous experiences.
When they start to move forward from there though, they learn just as quickly as everyone else.
Don't call the kids dumb. They aren't!!
Probably not the best general statement to say that "kids are dumb" but Florida is known for having mediocre schools, which can only be expected from decades of piss poor education funding. Companies that want to set up shop in Florida are stymied by the lack of qualified job applicants because the state, as mentioned previously, is only interested in tourism.
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