|
|
|
Jewish World Review Sept. 21, 2011 / 22 Elul, 5771 Is this the test DC students will pass with flying colors? By Marybeth Hicks
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Here's a pop quiz:
What percentage of elementary school children in Washington DC public schools I sproficient in math? What about reading?
What is the proficiency of DC high school students in these areas?
The answer: less than half. Scores on the 2011 DC Comprehensive Assessment System exams showed only about forty-three percent of elementary students are proficient (read: just passing) in both reading and math; while about 44 percent of high schoolers are proficient in reading and just over forty-six percent are proficient in math.
These dismal figures are well known, more so because they came into question when allegations surfaced of cheating on the part of teachers (erasers, improved scores, celebratory press releases) in order to affect overall rates of improvement.
With reading and math scores such as these, there is only one logical thing to do: Implement a standardized test for sex education!
In the spring of 2012, children in DC's fifth, eighth, and tenth grades will take the nation's first standardized test to discern their proficiency in health and sex. This is so that the school system complies with a mandate on the part of its Office of State Superintendent of Education to evaluate the efficacy its comprehensive health and sex curriculum.
So the new 50-question test will measure progress in these areas. Apparently, scores won't be individualized but rather will be presented on a school-by-school basis.
Not surprisingly, folks on the left applaud this move as a means of legitimizing the notion of comprehensive sexuality education.
Some of us on the right think you can teach what must be taught about sex in biology class. But then some of us are dinosaurs who just want a population of citizens that can read and write and balance a checkbook and who are willing to educate our children at home about sexual morality and behavior.
To wit: Mr. Adam Tenner, executive director of MetroTeenAIDS, an organization that, among other things, provides contracted sexuality education programs for DC public schools.
Mr. Tenner was quoted as saying, "We are not preparing teachers or students to get good, high-quality sex and reproductive education."
Mr. Tenner's organization is out to change all that. Last year, at DC's Harvey Middle School, MetroTeenAIDS administered a "sex test" to seventh graders in an effort to assess their knowledge of sex and health issues. The survey began with a simple question, "What is your gender?" There were four possible answers: Male, female, transgender (male to female); transgender (female to male).
I gather "All of the above" was not an option.
The questions got harder from there, including:
. . . Can convince a reluctant partner to use barrier protection (i.e. condoms, dental dams) during sex?
Presumably, the sex and health education exam slated for next spring is not akin to the graphic and intrusive "sex test" favored by the folks at MetroTeenAIDS to assess the knowledge and habits of youngsters.
But parents and citizens should be warned: This is most certainly the direction that leftist sex educators want to go.
If precious classroom time is going to be spent on sex education, by all means test kids to be sure they're learning something.
But the bigger question remains: When school systems fail in their principle missions — to instill basic literacy and numeracy in their pupils — perhaps they should consider shedding their social engineering agendas in favor of reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Radical, I know. Call me a dinosaur.
Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Marybeth Hicks, a wife of more than 20 years and mother of four children, lives in the Midwest. She uses her column to share her perspective on issues and experiences that shape families nationwide. To comment, please click here.
© 2009, Marybeth Hicks | ||||||||||||||||
Click