SAT scores down for the second year in a row

[malaise]

Math and reading were the lowest since 1999. Just heard on Jim Lehrer's news hour. Here's a link.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6881036,00.html

<snip>
The class of 2007 averaged the lowest math and reading SAT scores since 1999, the College Board reported Tuesday.

Last spring's high school seniors scored on average 502, out of a possible 800 points, on the critical reading section of the country's most popular college entrance exam, down from 503 for the class of 2006. Math scores fell three points from 518 to 515.

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If the President is fucking dumb and MSM dumbs down all programmes, what the fuck do we expect.

[Systematic Chaos]

1. One of my favorite bands nailed this one:

I'm a teenager
I'm a teenager

I'm a teenager
Born in nineteen-hundred ninety-five
And I'll see you here later
Can't wait to meet you
If you're still alive

I hope you're ready
'Cause it ain't cute
Get your gun hand steady
Grab your Bible and shoot

It's the spirit of 2009
We're still waiting for the water
To change into wine
There's nothing left 'cause it's all right
We're gonna burn some books tonight
It's the spirit of 2009, 2009

I'm a teenager
I ain't got no teachers
They gave 'em forty acres and a mule
But I got big brother preachers
Now I see things I never saw in school

They put a wig on the eagle
They took the sex off your screen
Thank God the pill's illegal
I'll be a dad at fourteen

It's the spirit of 2009
We're still waiting for the water
To change into wine
It's the spirit of 2009
Forget the left 'cause it's all right
The population is out of sight
It's the spirit of 2009, 2009 (hoo)

I used to play bass in a solid mass band
Smoke jelly and hang out in my pod
But this summer I'm going to astro camp
Learn a trade that gets me closer to God, God

(solo)

I'm a teenager
I'm a teenager

It's the spirit of 2009
We're still waiting for the water
To change into wine
There's nothing left 'cause it's all right
We're gonna burn some books tonight
It's the spirit of 2009
It's the spirit of 2009

The spirit of 2009
The spirit of 2009
The spirit of 2000-eh, hey
(Repeats)


Dada, Spirit of 2009, from the album El Subliminoso

[malaise]

2. Great lyrics

I'll search for that on UTube.

[snappyturtle]

3. Why is this? n/t

[Igel]

5. Perhaps all the kids are simpler less well educated.

Can't rule that out.

Perhaps there's a change in the sample of kids taking the SAT. If more lower achieving kids whose college prospects are marginal take the test, you'd get lower results. It's also possible that if some high-ranking colleges drop the SAT requirement it would take some top-achievers from the pool.

The latter explanation's held for some secular changes in SAT (and other) scores.

Averages can hide so many changes in the data.

[SmokingJacket]

6. Because more and more kids are taking the test.

There are kids taking it now who are not necessarily "college material." I believe Maine requires all students to take it, now.

An interesting stat might be: How many kids get the top score? Presuming the test is meaningful (which I don't think) and valid (eh) then if kids are getting dumber, there should be fewer top scorers.

[Johonny]

4. Hmm

I think it's possible 1-3 point out of 800 is within the variance of tests.