+OK 8271 octets Received: from smtp00.nwnexus.com (smtp00.nwnexus.com [192.135.191.25]) by mail3.halcyon.com (8.10.2/8.10.2) with ESMTP id e8R0noj25419 for ; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 17:49:50 -0700 (PDT) Received: from lists.cua.edu (listsrva.cua.edu [136.242.10.25]) by smtp00.nwnexus.com (8.8.8/8.8.8) with ESMTP id RAA15790 for ; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 17:49:31 -0700 (PDT) Received: from listsrva (136.242.10.25) by lists.cua.edu (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1a) with SMTP id <5.1C9862F0@lists.cua.edu>; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 20:41:14 -0400 Received: from LISTS.CUA.EDU by LISTS.CUA.EDU (LISTSERV-TCP/IP release 1.8d) with spool id 190941 for ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 20:41:13 -0400 Received: from tisch.mail.mindspring.net by lists.cua.edu (LSMTP for Windows NT v1.1a) with SMTP id <3.1B3158E0@lists.cua.edu>; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 20:41:11 -0400 Received: from oemcomputer (pool-209-138-186-44-bltm.grid.net [209.138.186.44]) by tisch.mail.mindspring.net (8.9.3/8.8.5) with SMTP id UAA17028 for ; Tue, 26 Sep 2000 20:49:20 -0400 (EDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C027FA.51228D20" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Message-ID: <00bb01c0281b$d91da2c0$2cba8ad1@oemcomputer> Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 20:42:42 -0400 Reply-To: Assessment Reform Network Mailing List Sender: Assessment Reform Network Mailing List From: Irv Besecker Subject: accountability To: ARN-L@listsrva.CUA.EDU Status: O This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C027FA.51228D20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I'm not sure what this is worth, or what use I will make of it, but here = are 2 stories about the hypocrisy of those who are always prattling on = about accountability. One of our assistant principals told me this story. Two years ago she = went to a state-sponsored conference on "testing and accountability." = The NC Director of Research had prepared a report comparing the = end-of-course test scores (high school) of schools with 4-period days = with those who have 7-period days. Our AP was interested in this, so = she examined the report. It listed her school as a 4-period school when = it was not. She called 30 schools and 22 were wrong, so she e-mailed = the Director of Research several times and never received a response. A = year later she attended the same conference and was presented with the = same report, including the same errors. They were showing NC with over = 70% 4-period days, when it is less than half. At the meeting, she stood = up and asked about it. She found out that the research folks determined = a 4-period school by whether or not they sent test scores in at the end = of the first semester in December. Well, many 7-period schools send in = some test scores in December because they test some repeat classes then. = So the whole report, printed booklets and all, was completely = invalidated 2 years running. Where is the accoutability in that? In Forsyth County, where I teach, the local school board created a = Senior Project 5 years ago. When it was introduced, parents raised such = a fuss that it was withdrawn and re-tooled. It was re-introduced a few = months ago as the Graduation Project. Hundreds of people spent = countless hours, both on and off the clock, preparing a 21-page booklet = that was printed and delivered to over 5000 freshmen and sophomores = about a month ago. Several parent meetings later, the school board was = on the run again. At tonight's meeting, they killed it--mercifully. = Where is the accountability for this fiasco? We have had a shortage of = bus drivers this year, so we have had more problems with late buses this = year than any time in my12 years at the school. It has been extremely = disruptive to my first period class, and a real hardship for the = students involved. My question is: Why doesn't the board let us decide = who graduates and just carry out their responsibility to get the buses = to run on time? Where is the accountability in this? =20 Thanks for allowing me to vent. Irv ------=_NextPart_000_00B8_01C027FA.51228D20 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
I'm not sure what this is worth, or what use = I will=20 make of it, but here are 2 stories about the hypocrisy of those who are = always=20 prattling on about accountability.
 
One of our assistant principals told me this=20 story.  Two years ago she went to a state-sponsored conference on=20 "testing and accountability."  The NC Director of = Research had=20 prepared a report comparing the end-of-course test scores (high school) = of=20 schools with 4-period days with those who have 7-period days.  Our = AP was=20 interested in this, so she examined the report.  It listed her = school as a=20 4-period school when it was not.  She called 30 schools and 22 were = wrong,=20 so she e-mailed the Director of Research several times and never = received a=20 response.  A year later she attended the same conference and was = presented=20 with the same report, including the same errors.  They were showing = NC with=20 over 70% 4-period days, when it is less than half.  At the meeting, = she=20 stood up and asked about it.  She found out that the research folks = determined a 4-period school by whether or not they sent test scores in = at the=20 end of the first semester in December.  Well, many 7-period schools = send in=20 some test scores in December because they test some repeat classes = then. =20 So the whole report, printed booklets and all, was completely = invalidated 2=20 years running.  Where is the accoutability in that?
 
In Forsyth County, where I teach, the local = school=20 board created a Senior Project 5 years ago.  When it was = introduced,=20 parents raised such a fuss that it was withdrawn and re-tooled.  It = was=20 re-introduced a few months ago as the Graduation Project.  Hundreds = of=20 people spent countless hours, both on and off the clock, preparing a = 21-page=20 booklet that was printed and delivered to over 5000 freshmen and = sophomores=20 about a month ago.  Several parent meetings later, the school board = was on=20 the run again.  At tonight's meeting, they killed = it--mercifully. =20 Where is the accountability for this fiasco?  We have had a = shortage of bus=20 drivers this year, so we have had more problems with late buses this = year than=20 any time in my12 years at the school.  It has been extremely = disruptive to=20 my first period class, and a real hardship for the students = involved.  My=20 question is:  Why doesn't the board let us decide who graduates and = just=20 carry out their responsibility to get the buses to run on time?  = Where is=20 the accountability in this? 
 
Thanks for allowing me to vent. =20 Irv
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