Salon.com > Christine Armario

U.S. students not proficient in science

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Very few students have the advanced skills that could lead to careers in science and technology, according to results of a national exam released Tuesday that education leaders called alarming.

Only 1 percent of fourth-grade and 12th-grade students, and 2 percent of eighth-graders scored in the highest group on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress, a federal test known as the Nation's Report Card. Less than half were considered proficient, with many more showing minimal science knowledge.

"It's very disappointing for all educators to see students performing below the level we'd like them to be," said Bonnie Embry, an elementary school science lab teacher in Lexington, Ky. "These low scores should send a message to educators across our nation that we're not spending enough time teaching science."

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the results mean students aren't learning at a rate that will maintain the nation's role as an international leader in the sciences. He and others expressed concern that more students aren't prepared for careers as inventors, doctors and engineers in a world increasingly driven by technology.

High school seniors are worse readers than in 1992

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:32:00 +0000

A national education assessment released Thursday shows that high school seniors have made some improvement in reading, but remain below the achievement levels reached nearly two decades ago.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, referred to at the Nation's Report Card, tested 52,000 students in reading and 49,000 in math across 1,670 school districts in 2009.

Students scored an average of 288 out of 500 points in reading comprehension, two points above the 2005 score but still below the 1992 average of 292. Thirty-eight percent of 12th grade students were classified as at or above the "proficient" level, while 74 percent were considered at or above "basic."

"Today's report suggests that high school seniors' achievement in reading and math isn't rising fast enough to prepare them to succeed in college and careers," U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said.

Cornelia S. Orr, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees development tests, said she was encouraged by the fact reading scores had gone up in recent years.

"And we'd like it to get back up to the level it once was," she said.

Meek won’t quit Fla. Senate race

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Florida's three-way Senate race grew testier Friday as the last-place Democratic candidate denied claims that former President Bill Clinton had advised him to drop out, saying the idea came instead from his independent rival, Gov. Charlie Crist.

Rep. Kendrick Meek went on national morning TV news shows to swat down reports that he had told Clinton, who was campaigning for Meek, that he would drop out to improve Crist's chances of defeating the front-runner, Republican Marco Rubio. Crist left the GOP to run as an independent after Rubio led him before the Republican primary.

Meek said it was Crist who had suggested the idea to Meek. He said Crist had also called Clinton's office "trying to persuade them to get me out of this race."

"Gov. Crist talked to me about getting out of the race. I recommended to the governor that he should consider getting out of the race," Meek said on CNN's "American Morning."

Crist's spokesman did not immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment.

Meek said he had talked with Clinton about the idea while the president was campaigning for Meek. He said Clinton privately asked him about rumors that he would quit the campaign.

High school students face hard lesson in economics

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Students graduating from high school this spring may be collecting their diplomas just in time, leaving institutions that are being badly weakened by the nation's economic downturn.

Across the country, mass layoffs of teachers, counselors and other staff members -- caused in part by the drying up of federal stimulus dollars -- are leading to larger classes and reductions in everything that is not a core subject, including music, art, clubs, sports and other after-school activities.

Educators and others worry the cuts could lead to higher dropout rates and lower college attendance as students receive less guidance and become less engaged in school. They fear a generation of young people could be left behind.

"It's going to be harder for everybody to get an opportunity to get into college," said Chelsea Braza, a 16-year-old sophomore at Silver Creek High School in San Jose. "People wouldn't be as motivated to do anything in school because there's no activities and there's no involvement."

The library at Silver Creek High is open for only an hour a day. The career center is closed. There is no more summer school. And student athletes must pay $200 each.