NOT THE SHARPEST KNIVES IN THE DRAWER: Garbage In, Garbage Out: Part II
Don't know much about history. Don't know much biology. Don't know much about a science book. Don't know much about the French I took. … Don't know much about geography. Don't know much trigonometry. Don't know much about algebra. Don't know what a slide rule is for.
That pretty much sums up the end result of 12 years of public school education in this country.
The Department of Education has periodically tested high school seniors in civics, geography, American history, mathematics, reading, science and writing since 1969. Last year, economics was added to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) testing program for the first time.
So how'd they do?
The Stiletto checked the National Center for Education Statistics Web site for test results in these subjects. The data is based on nationally representative samples of roughly 11,000 12th graders for each test. The results are divided into four achievement levels: below basic, basic, proficient and advanced (The Stiletto lists the most current results; prior year and trend results are also available on the Web site):
† Civics (2006 results): Below basic, 34 percent; basic, 38 percent; 22 percent, proficient; advanced, 5 percent. Sample question: In the area of United States foreign policy, Congress shares power with the (A) President; (B) Supreme Court; (C) state governments; (D) United Nations.
† Economics (2006 results): Below basic, 21 percent; basic, 38 percent; 39 percent, proficient; advanced, 3 percent. Sample question: Two countries are currently trading with each other. The countries agree to remove all trade restrictions on products traded between them. Which of the following is most likely to decrease? (A) The variety of goods available; (B) The prices of imported goods; (C) The quality of goods available; (D) The amount of imported goods.
† Geography (2001 results): Below basic, 29 percent; basic, 47 percent; 23 percent, proficient; advanced, 1 percent. Sample question: Which of the following methods provides the most accurate and effective visual evidence for determining the extent of desertification in a region? (A) Contour maps; (B) Long-range weather forecasts; (C) Satellite imagery; (D) Seismic readings.
† History (2006 results): Below basic, 53 percent; basic, 34 percent; 12 percent, proficient; advanced, 1 percent. Sample question: At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, the large states and the small states disagreed with each other about how the new government should be structured. Identify the most important issue that large and small states disagreed about.
† Mathematics (2005 results): Below basic, 39 percent; basic, 38 percent; 21 percent, proficient; advanced, 2 percent. Sample question: In a certain restaurant a whole pie has been sliced into 8 equal wedges. Only 2 slices of the pie remain. Three people would each like an equal portion from the remaining slices of pie. What fraction of the original pie should each person receive?
† Reading (2005 results): Below basic, 27 percent; basic, 37 percent; 31 percent, proficient; advanced, 5 percent. Sample question: Complete the income tax return, using the tax table and the following W-2 statement. You have no taxable interest to claim.
† Science (2005 results): Below basic, 46 percent; basic, 35 percent; 17 percent, proficient; advanced, 2 percent. Sample question: What two gases make up most of the Earth's atmosphere? (A) Hydrogen and oxygen; (B) Hydrogen and nitrogen; (C) Oxygen and carbon dioxide; (D) Oxygen and nitrogen.
† Writing (2002 results): Below basic, 26 percent; basic, 51 percent; 22 percent, proficient; advanced, 2 percent. Sample question: Students are asked to write for three main purposes: narrative, informative, and persuasive.
Except for writing, more than half of all high school seniors have basic knowledge or less in every subject area tested. Reporting about the results of the new economics test, The New York Times – which deceptively lumps achievement levels together instead of reporting them separately, as The Stiletto has – calls these dismal scores "good":
On the economics test, 42 percent of 12th graders performed at or above the proficient level, and 79 percent performed at or above the basic level.
Here’s what Darvin M. Winick, chairman of the bipartisan National Assessment Governing Board created by Congress to oversee the NAEP test tells The New York Times about the economics scores:
"The numbers here are pretty good, really. Given the number of students who finish high school with a limited vocabulary, not reading well and weak in math, the results may be as good or better than we should expect."
Thanks to unionized teachers who can’t be fired and parents unable to opt out of sending their kids to substandard public schools, millions of Americans do not read or do math well enough, know enough basic science or have enough of a grasp of how the three branches of our government work to evaluate a candidate’s position on the issues or the merits of a ballot initiative.
Addendum: Parsing The Numbers
The Stiletto has now read several news reports and op-eds on the results of the economics test, all of which also cited the results of one or two other tests. In each, the results are deceptively reported, in her opinion, so as to make it appear that students come out of 12 years of school able to have informed opinions on multifaceted problems and then to choose amongst various proposals to solve those problems or candidates pushing the proposals.
If one combines below basic and basic (just passing) scores a very different picture emerges than if one combines basic, proficient and advanced scores – or just proficient and advanced scores. Take a look:
† Basic Knowledge and Lower: Civics (68 percent); Economics (59 percent); Geography (76 percent); U.S. History (87 percent); Math (77 percent); Reading (64 percent); Science (81 percent); Writing (77 percent).
† Basic Knowledge and Higher: Civics (72 percent); Economics (80 percent); Geography (71 percent); U.S. History (47 percent); Math (61 percent); Reading (73 percent); Science (54 percent); Writing (75 percent).
† Proficient Knowledge and Higher: Civics (27 percent); Economics (42 percent); Geography (24 percent); U.S. History (13 percent); Math (23 percent); Reading (36 percent); Science (19 percent); Writing (24 percent).
The Stiletto highlighted 12th-grade students’ knowledge of U.S. history, because even when slicing and dicing the numbers to produce the rosiest picture, fewer than half know enough to be informed citizens and voters.
Unless we set the bar higher and educate our students so that they leave high school with at least a proficient level of knowledge in geography, American history or science, then how will they be able to evaluate candidates’ competing positions on dealing with the Persian Gulf, or with the issue of reparations for slavery, or with what - if anything - the government and individual citizens should do about global warming?
Editorial Note: The Stiletto’s economic well-being depends on the vast majority of Americans not being able to write well, so this is a conflict of interest of sorts that she feels duty-bound to disclose.
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