Some of the homework Sarah is bringing home involves practice tests in science for the TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge Skills) that is coming up soon. I want to speak to the editors. About one out of every 10 questions is either completely ridiculous or a matter of opinion. For example, one question asked which planet has the hottest weather. The choices were like Mercury, because it is closest to the Sun; Venus, because it is closest; Mars because it is 2nd planet from the Sun; Jupiter, because it is the 3rd planet from the Sun.
Ok, so the only one of those statements that can possibly be true independent of the question is Mercury, which is the closest planet to the Sun. But not only does Mercury *not* have weather (it doesn't have an atmosphere), the surface temperature on Venus is actually about 40 degrees Kelvin higher than the maximum surface temperature on Mercury, thanks to the intense greenhouse effect on Venus.
I haven't read carefully through her science book lately, because it would both give me tired-head and also make me angry. Even for the practice questions that make sense, they are often quite difficult for a 5th grader. At least, I think they are. I sure don't remember learning anything about most of this stuff until after around 9th grade. I do know that the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has published their benchmarks for scientific literacy for schools to follow (see the website for Project 2061), but this seems ambitious even compared to those.
Sarah works so hard on homework that she doesn't have time for chores, so I went out and bought her something she really really wanted: Pokemon Ruby for the GameBoy Advance. She plays Pokemon games for hours on end. She was *sooo* excited to get it. I bought the hint book for her, too, but I made her pay me part of the cost out of her money she's earned from her report card and a couple of chores.
The only problem there is it made Cody really jealous. She kinda rubbed his nose in it. Cody got all mad. I explained to Cody that he doesn't have nearly as much homework as Sarah. He spends most of his afternoons playing at the park or playing on the GameCube or watching TV. If he wants to earn money, he knows there are opportunities all over the house for chores he can do. He just chooses not to, so that means he doesn't get to buy stuff.
Despite my impeccable logic, Cody had a sarcastic and surly attitude for the rest of the evening. Imagine that.
Posted by Observer at April 6, 2003 01:43 PMComments on entries can only be made in pop-up windows while those entries are still on the main index page. Sorry for the inconvenience this causes, but this blocks about 99.99% of the spam the blog receives.
Ummmm, since she's playing the Gameboy for hours, one would suggest she has times for a few chores here and there. :P
/action ducks!
I know how much parents hate it when other people stick their noses into parenting. I'm sorry, I couldn't resist! :)
Posted by: Perkusi on April 6, 2003 02:24 PMHeh, well I think that's a great purchase!
Posted by: Polerand on April 6, 2003 03:52 PMI see Chan Ho Park's ERA is up to 15.88.
Ha ha! (in the manner of Nelsen Muntz)
Posted by: Humbaba on April 6, 2003 05:42 PMPerkusi, she gets to play games only after her bedtime (she has 30 minutes to play games, then 30 minutes of reading time), and the game-time adds up. Plus, if she's been doing homework for 3 hours straight upon coming home, we don't feel like heaping chores on her if she wants to unwind.
Humbaba, you mean DOWN to 15.88. Chan Ho pitched for 3 sparkling innings, gave up 5 hits, 3 walks and 4 runs (all earned), and he IMPROVED his ERA.
Posted by: Observer on April 6, 2003 05:50 PMI know Observer. I figured as much. I was just teasing :)
One of the great and wonderful benefits of working at a private school is the lack of any standardized testing whatsoever. I do not envy my public school cohorts in any way. And I feel sorry for the kids because they are at the whim of some astoundingly insightless people.
Posted by: Perkusi on April 6, 2003 08:07 PMRead the box score this morning and realized I left out the fact that Chan Ho *ALSO* hit two batters during his "outing". Argh.
Posted by: Observer on April 7, 2003 09:17 AMYeah, but the 15.88 is from a large sample size. It's still three times what it needs to be for a medium-crappy pitcher, and more than twice what he should be fired for.
Posted by: Humbaba on April 7, 2003 09:47 AMoops, I meant larger, not large. Two outings isn't large.
Posted by: Humbaba on April 7, 2003 09:47 AMI haven't had much experience with the whole TAKS concept and at first was impressed with school systems down here being so concentrated compared to what the kids had come from in NS. But now, I hate their school. My kids don't come home excited about what they learned, they come home beat down ALL THE TIME. I wish we were rich, private school they go. I thought Doug said testing was in private schools too.
Posted by: Felicity on April 7, 2003 10:49 AMPrivate schools are not required by law to submit to any state mandated assessment tests. Some take them just to show they are the same or better than public schools.
Posted by: Perkusi on April 7, 2003 04:42 PMPrivate schools are not required by law to submit to any state mandated assessment tests. Some take them just to show they are the same or better than public schools.
Posted by: Perkusi on April 7, 2003 04:44 PM