This new push to change the admissions procedure has me incensed. I'm offended by the whole thing. The short version is that they want to add more admissions criteria to increase diversity because blacks and Latinos are underrepresented. Nonsense!
Here are some links:
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I like the premise:
"The new bills say the city should create an admission “power score” that would factor in a student’s grade point average, attendance and state exam scores, as well as the specialized admissions test, known as SHSAT."
I agree that a individual's aptitude is more than a test score. But I guess I do agree that it's not fair that seats might be taken from other deserving kids just because of race. On the flip side how is it that different from college entry?
Personally, I went to Brooklyn tech and it was an extremely diverse school. I had plenty of White, AA and Latino friends . Perhaps things have changed in the past decade?
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@locavore_mama: Exactly, sadly its not much different than college admissions. A friend joked (no idea if this is true or not) but there would be like hardly any white females at MIT if they didn't try for diversity.
nectarine / 2280 posts
Tech is pretty diverse but it's not full of the minorities they prefer. Apparently asians dont figure into the minority count. The misrepresentation of privilege is most disturbing. I'll link to the Official Tech Alumni response.
apricot / 334 posts
@locavore: agreed it is exactly like college admissions. This is the only time asians are not considered a minority which is ridiculous.
pomegranate / 3314 posts
Eh, I would be okay with it/ think it's necessary.
Eta: I'm not in the city anymore, though, so I guess it's easier for me to have this viewpoint. If I were, LO would be going to Catholic school anyway.
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
I get so mad that somehow asians are not considered minorities! Just b/c there are so many of us? B/c we work hard and are sucessful?! Uggggh.
This was a big reason my parents did not live in Queens, and the fact that we don't. I don't want to subject our LO(s) to crazy testings and/or other standards just to get a good education!
nectarine / 2280 posts
I think what's also being misrepresented is the idea of privilege. These schools aren't populated by rich kids. Across the board more than half of the students qualify for free lunch. A test is the fairest most objective measure. Why introduce other criteria which can be manipulated? Why can't it be on merit?
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
From LOCAVORE_MAMA's snippet, if they use this power score, I feel like they'd still get the same batch of kids anyway. Most kids that work super hard at the SHSAT most likely already have decent grades outside of the test too.
kiwi / 742 posts
I feel the same way about this test as I do the SAT's. One test can not accurately depict how well a student will do in school, it just can't. I don't see why including other activities is a problem? The world is a diverse place, and being "book smart" is great but knowing how to interact in a group setting with other cultures will propel you to the next level. I don't see the harm in giving it a try? If the kid who aced the test was going to get in, he/she is probably still going to get in.
coconut / 8234 posts
Diversity is a huge issue in NYC schools. We have the most segregated schools in the country. I recently went to an event about diversity in the school district we live in (even though my LO is not yet school age) and I found out some scary things. I don't believe that one test is an accurate gauge of a student's academic performance and ability.
That being said I think that if they don't change admissions, there needs to be something addressed regarding test preparation and opportunity. What's the bigger issue here? Why are Black and Latino students underrepresented?
I think changing admissions is sort of a band-aid solution that doesn't address the root of these issues. It begins much earlier than at the point when these kids are testing for high school.
apricot / 294 posts
asians are not included in the minority category for purposes of school admissions because we are not an "underrepresented" group.
Below is a link to an article about the lack of diversity at Hunter College High School, which is extremely competitive and, due to test prep whiz kids, now has asians making up nearly half the school body.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/nyregion/05hunter.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
nectarine / 2280 posts
Here's the official BTHS Alumni response
http://www.bthsalumni.org/file/official-position-statement.pdf
It brings up some very valid points.
The test isn't the problem.
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