\doc\web\98\10\hiscore.txt
Date sent:      	Tue, 22 Dec 1998 11:17:16 -0600 (CST)
To:             	arthurhu@halcyon.com, upstream-list@cycad.com
From:           	Jim Versluys <jimver@pop3.wt.net>
Subject:        	Re: [Upstream] (Fwd) [education-consumers] Re: "outstanding"
 	school based on


>>Houston ISD is doing a better job with it's minority students >then the
>>"burb" districts. What is interesting is comparing Mr. Lott's >Westly
>>Elementary (Distar) scores in 4th and 5th grade 25-35%.  In >first and
>>second the grades scores were 80-90% for the students. >Somethings wrong here.




Coming from a man who had two friends working in the Houston Independant
School Districts most minority-heavy schools: the scores are cooked on a
District wide level. Coaching on standardized tests is mete and standard,
and answers are simply re-written if they do not correspond to raised
expectations. Superintendant Rod Paige (a professor in "Kineseology" from
a "fine black unniversity". Five page phd thesis on the offensive front
line of a football team) is a barely functioning illiterate rube who
decided that it would be good publicity for him if scores went up. Ergo,
they did. Two friends who were on the front line (and, both consequently
said they will never teach again) both indicated around 95% of the
children leaving these schools are functionally illiterate. 


Yes, these scores are too good to be true. 


-James Versluys