11th-hour test change is unconscionable
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Middle school principals in legacy Shelby County Schools schools were advised after the school day on April 22 that SCS Supt. Dorsey Hopson had decided that eighth-grade physical science students would participate in the TCAP science subtest.
“Science” and “physical science” are two entirely different courses with different material. Thus the students taking physical science have not studied the material that will be tested on the science subtest.
TCAPs begin April 29. This lastminute decision gives these kids just a few days to try to prepare for a test they only just learned they have to take, testing material they have not studied. TCAP scores count as 15 percent of their grade for the subject tested.
Because physical science is an advanced high-school level course, the students’ grades for that class go on their high school transcript. Moreover, teachers’ evaluations depend in part on how their students score on the TCAP tests.
This last-minute decision to make some legacy SCS eighth-graders take a standardized test on material they have not studied is completely out of line, and will have real consequences E-mail to: letters@commercialappeal. com Fax to: (901) 529- 6445 Mail to: Letters to the Editor, The Commercial Appeal, P.O. Box 334, Memphis, TN 38101 Online: Click on the “Submit a Letter” link on the Opinion page at commercialappeal.com. to both the kids taking the test and their teachers. It is a total sandbagging of legacy SCS eighth-grade students and teachers.
Supt. Hopson, please reverse this decision now. Do not make kids take a test on a subject they have not studied and for which they now have totally inadequate time to prepare.
At a minimum, do not factor the results from this test into their grades or into their teachers’ evaluations. ed felons to be able to gain employment that they would normally be disqualified for as a convicted felon.
Though this legislation may in theory prevent recidivism, it actually disenfranchises the law-abiding citizens who are seeking gainful employment in what is now one of the tightest labor markets in history.
The mere fact that a convicted felon may be denied employment upon release from prison should be incentive enough to persuade the individual from committing the crime.
Sure, it’s tragic that the status of being a convicted felon may prevent an individual from getting ahead in life, but that is a consequence of their actions.
As the adage says, “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”
Why did The Commercial Appeal confine the news about President Obama delaying a ruling on the Keystone XL pipeline to a small article on Page 4A of your April 19 edition?
Please inform us again on how many thousands of jobs are affected by this ruling.
It seems that jobs are not as important to this president and his administration as are welfare checks and other government giveaways.