From: New York
Date sent: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 19:35:50 -0500 (EST)
Subject: "Rigorous"?

TO ALL:

Previously referenced packet of material from a Feb. 1997 Albany conference on School-to-Work included some of the learning standards for New York State: These "rigorous" standards include the following:

"Social Studies, Standard 4: Economics. Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of how the United States and other societies develop economic systems and associated institutions to allocate scarce resources, how major decision-making units function in the United States and other national economies, and how an economy solves the scarcity problem through market and nonmarket mechanisms." [What portfolio assessment will cover this? How does this play into the Biodiversity plans to divest the greedy U.S. of its resources, and solve the scarcity problems? hmmmmmm?]

"The Arts, Standard 1: Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts. Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation and performance in the arts (dance, music, theatre, and visual arts) and participate in various roles in the arts.

Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art. Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to other aspects of human endeavor and thought."

"English Language Arts: Standard 2: Language for Literary Response and Expression. Students will read and listen to oral, written and electronically produced texts and performances from American and world literature; relate texts and performances to their own lives; and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. As speakers and writers, students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for self-expression and artistic creation.

Standard 4: Language for Social Interaction. Students will listen, speak, read and write for social interaction. Students will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views." [Grammar, spelling, vocabulary?]

"Math, Science, and Technology. Standard 4: Science. Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Standard 5: Technology. Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem Solving. Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions." [This was apparently demonstrated in today's As The School Turns daily Press soap opera report: A student has demonstrated his inventiveness by creating a steering wheel that can be used by a person who has no use of his/her hands. He has a surplus steering wheel (Ford visible in the center!) and has applied four crude round padded knobs spaced around the steering wheel. The student is in 7th grade, and, surprise, surprise!: His invention "demonstrates the application of math, science and technology to address real-life problems." Amazing demonstration -- of reinventing the wheel, so to speak. These crude creations are churned out continually in every school. Why?]

"Health, Physical Education, and Home Economics: Standard 3: Resource Management. Students will understand and be able to manage their personal and community resources." [Volunteers, anyone? Want to assess this standard for the CIM, CAM personal portfolios? What are the student's personal resources? What are the community resources? What is "manage"?]

FOR THIS, HUNDREDS OF CARPETBAGGER CONSULTANTS AND THOUSANDS OF EDUCRATS ARE WORKING FULL-TIME AND DIGGING DEEPER AND DEEPER MONEY PITS FOR THEMSELVES! DOES THE PUBLIC REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS INCLUDED IN "TOUGH NEW STANDARDS"??