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HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)

29. I may know more about the subject than you imagine. So I am not surprised that you call

Mon Apr 16, 2012, 03:59 AM

Apr 2012

my comments "silly".

Such is expected of those who consider the ranking, categorizing and ordering of human beings "normal" and "necessary".

and i'm not the only one who thinks so.

Unequal By Design critically examines high-stakes standardized testing in order to illuminate what is really at stake for students, teachers, and communities negatively affected by such testing. This thoughtful analysis traces standardized testing’s origins in the Eugenics and Social Efficiency movements of the late 19th and early 20th century through its current use as the central tool for national educational reform via No Child Left Behind. By exploring historical, social, economic, and educational aspects of testing, author Wayne Au demonstrates that these tests are not only premised on the creation of inequality, but that their structures are inextricably intertwined with social inequalities that exist outside of schools.

http://www.amazon.com/Unequal-Design-High-Stakes-Standardization-Inequality/dp/0415990718

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Standardized testing originated in the eugenics movement [View all] HiPointDem Apr 2012 OP

Eugentists also wore clothes and ate food, should we stop that too? Kurska Apr 2012 #1

+1. TheWraith Apr 2012 #2

And when a "tool" begins life for the specific Union Scribe Apr 2012 #3

The first serious anti-smoking campaigns were created by the Nazis. TheWraith Apr 2012 #4

Testing was used by eugenicists to rank & categorize populations in order to distribute benefit and HiPointDem Apr 2012 #8

You don't seem to understand the concept of the genetic fallacy. TheWraith Apr 2012 #34

You don't seem to understand my reasoning. It has nothing to do with the genetic fallacy. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #36

I prefer to criticise ST because it sucks, not because I like the genetic fallacy. (nt) Posteritatis Apr 2012 #32

This is an overly simplistic and distorted "history" unc70 Apr 2012 #5

and "who gets into elite colleges" has no relation to the eugenics movement? HiPointDem Apr 2012 #6

No, the tests are not some ploy to maintain control unc70 Apr 2012 #17

Of course they are. The impulse to sort, categorize and rank human beings for the purpose of HiPointDem Apr 2012 #19

That the instruments (tests in this case) are misused ... unc70 Apr 2012 #24

The entire impulse for the extension of testing is to do these things. And always was; to rank, HiPointDem Apr 2012 #25

There is no point in discussing this further with you unc70 Apr 2012 #28

I may know more about the subject than you imagine. So I am not surprised that you call HiPointDem Apr 2012 #29

I stand by my earlier assessment unc70 Apr 2012 #45

Yep. Also, responses #1 and #20. (nt) Posteritatis Apr 2012 #31

where is the test that shows this SwampG8r Apr 2012 #7

Well said quaker bill Apr 2012 #11

You're right. It's a talent you learn to spot. Noodleboy13 Apr 2012 #35

one of us one of us SwampG8r Apr 2012 #44

K & R! proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #9

k&r Starry Messenger Apr 2012 #10

Need I mention Margaret Sanger? exboyfil Apr 2012 #12

We don't need an alternative obamanut2012 Apr 2012 #13

What standard to use for ploughing through 20,000 exboyfil Apr 2012 #15

A lot of people were eugenicists before 1945. aikoaiko Apr 2012 #14

If you think standardized testing is okay, proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #16

Maybe the tests were accurate, but the special education helped them? Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #38

I don't understand your point about special ed proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #39

why do we need the MCATs? some future doctors may not do well Snake Alchemist Apr 2012 #18

As. Did. Birth. Control. Tom Ripley Apr 2012 #20

You mean lysol douches? Quantess Apr 2012 #21

No, Margaret Sanger (and I have no problem with her efforts) Tom Ripley Apr 2012 #22

Oh. Well yes, she was a champion of access to birth control for poor women. Quantess Apr 2012 #23

other motivating factors: HiPointDem Apr 2012 #30

Birth control didn't originate in the eugenics movement. The promotion of birth control for the HiPointDem Apr 2012 #27

Exactly. Thank you for putting it so concisely. Quantess Apr 2012 #33

Alternatives? n/t LadyHawkAZ Apr 2012 #26

I'm going to guess that those tests have been changed over the years. Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #37

Cultural bias has been found repeatedly in standardized tests proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #40

Not true. Some people have found bias. The tests... Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #46

As for what I think we should do instead - proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #41

What about for everyone else? 4th law of robotics Apr 2012 #42

Portfolio assessment would work well for elementary proud2BlibKansan Apr 2012 #43

I don't think that should be in the hands of teachers. Talk about bias. Honeycombe8 Apr 2012 #47