Letters, we get letters
I get mail (quite a bit) but periodically one leaps out to me. Regarding the recent Tennessee education rants I’ve posted here and here, an anonymous reader writes (note: where indicated by brackets, I have changed identifying information):
Reading your posts about homeschooling in Tennessee and the idea of a homeschool bias, I was struck by how quickly your commenters began flaming each other with such hostility. Very frustrating to read seriously, but still enjoyable. I wonder what each of them has invested in the homeschool argument…more than a little, I imagine.
You should know that you are not alone in your feeling that the state lottery scholarship criteria is unjustly favorable to non-homeschooled students. Off the record, you should also know that I work at [a not so distant Tennessee college]. I’m also a homeschool graduate. I was homeschooled from 3rd grade through graduation.
When the issue of these “standards” for scholarship eligibilty were announced a few months ago, I was livid. I consider myself something of an advocate for homeschooling as a practice and for the fair treatment of those who practice it. I immediately shared my frustration and concern over the issue with two associate directors of [a not so distant Tennessee college], and with a former UT admissions counselor who is now a consultant with the state lottery. The response I received was frustrating; sympathy and vague agreement, but no action. The directors with whom I spoke both agreed that the standard is unfair, but neither felt it would be a problem for many students, since homeschoolers (at least those who apply to [here]) generally score much higher on stadardized tests like the ACT than traditionally educated students.
I certainly agree, as I think everyone does, that there needs to be a standard measuring device for Tennessee high school graduates, homeschooled and other. Thus far, the ACT has been the best indicator. For purposes of evaluating freshman applicants to [a not so distant Tennessee college], we give the most weight to ACT or SAT score. GPA is often falsely inflated and standards vary wildly from county to county and private to public. In fact, the only consideration given to GPA is for a core of [select] courses [… snip…] GPA is discounted almost entirely if it is not consistent with ACT score. When we reach “crunch time” every year (right now, in fact) for making the freshmen class, the general word goes out into the office that we cannot accept any more applications unless the student is exceptional, which is invariably measured as one who has scored 28 or better on the ACT…no regard for GPA.
Certainly, other factors than ACT score are considered when admitting freshman applicants. We want a diverse student body, and one that creates the sort of culture [a not so distant Tennessee college] values. But based upon extensive analysis of student return rates, graduation rates, and [a not so distant Tennessee college] gpa, the best indicator of likely future success at [a not so distant Tennessee college] for incoming freshmen is ACT score. Analysis of how regional groups perform at [a not so distant Tennessee college] is also done (sometimes school by school), but you will not find this data published anywhere. We’re also not *allowed* to use regional bias when evaluating incoming students…why, I’m not sure. Taboo, I guess. Trust me, though, a 3.5 gpa at [poor performing public high school] is nothing like a 3.5 at [good performing private school].
As an “insider” at the university level, I feel compelled to use my position to effect whatever change I can for the fair treatment of homeschoolers. I don’t know if any of this information is of interest to you, but I just wanted you to know, this is an issue I care about a lot, and it’s something I bring up at every opportunity (and we have an ungodly number of meetings here, so I have plenty of chances). Please keep making noise about this issue. Email Robert Biggers [robert.biggers@state.tn.us] (the former UT counselor) and voice your concern.
April 29th, 2004 at 5:42 pm
Okay, so how does this whole argument differ from gun control?
Parents might abuse their right to home-school by “teaching the test” thereby taking money from the state and giving their kids a bad education. Therefore, let’s ban private ownership of education and (de facto) only allow state run education. It’s for the good of the children.
Likewise: If we allow private citizens to exercise their right to KABA and to self defense, they might abuse it. So let’s allow only police to own guns and defend people. It’s for the good of the children.
The point is that our rights should not be abridged because some might abuse them. The alternative is socialization and we all know how well that works out.
One last point, has anyone thought to point out that homeschooled students do WAY better in college? I was homeschooled and when I was interviewing with deans and professors, they said that they actually PREFER homeschooled students because they work harder and take college more seriously than public school students. If homeschoolers were simply “taught the test” and lacked a complete education, you would see much higher college drop out rates and poorer academic performance overall – which you do not. The fact that you don’t would SEEM to indicate that the higher average test scores are indicative of better students, not “teaching the test”. This legislation is a solution in search of an imagined problem. PERIOD.
May 1st, 2004 at 11:23 am
It should also be noted that it’s about damn near impossible to “teach the test” for the ACT or SAT, at least to the level of scoring 4 or 5 points higher than what you would through traditional preparation.
Aside from that, there’s an entire test-teaching industry (see also: Peterson’s) devoted to improving test performance. This kind of preparation is EMBRACED by public schools, so any sort of “abuse” by homeschoolers would just be leveling the playing field.