Presents a facetious, ingenious resolution to the percentile dilemma concerning above- and below-average test scores. If schools enrolled the same number of pigs as students and tested both groups, the pigs would fill up the bottom half and all children would rank in the top 50 percent. However, some wrinkles need to be ironed out! (MLH)

Summarizes findings and anomalies of the Nation's Report Card in mathematics education. Even though most 17 year-olds know a fair amount, eighth- and ninth-graders need "numeracy" courses that review formulas, percents, use of sample surveys, and correlations, inductive and deductive logic, and basic computer commands. Includes eight…

Multidimensional creativity tests are more cost-effective than expert opinion in predicting creative thinking. Torrance (1966) delineated five purposes for using creativity tests: to promote understanding of the human mind, assist development of individualized instruction, provide additional information for remedial and psychotherapeutic programs,…

Despite its failings, Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" is valuable for emphasizing cognition as significantly affecting human performance and social achievement; acknowledging human differences; and offering a frightening depiction of contemporary American society. The authors err in reducing intelligence to a stable, immutable…

Examines seven criticisms of standardized achievement tests, including their failure to promote student learning, predict individual students' performance, and match test content with curriculum content. However, a teacher's insights into her students' learning, combined with properly interpreted standardized test results, can provide a balanced…

An experienced teacher spends too much time as a special-events coordinator facilitating movement among tests, instead of encouraging and enhancing student learning. For each test, she must rearrange the classroom and its routines, coordinate test materials, and assuage her third graders' fears. Teachers lack time to improve their practice. (MLH)

Since the state board adopted the Standards of Learning, Virginia high-school teachers maintain tighter schedules and more often use direct instruction instead of group activities to cover the new curriculum. A two-edged sword, the SOL has engendered an increased interest in professional collaboration. (MLH)

Refutes Bonnie Cramond's claim that divergent-thinking tests surpass expert opinions in judging creativity. Baer's original article deplores using "creativity" tests to select students for gifted/talent programs. He recommends having experts evaluate the creativity of actual products (poems and artwork). All students should be taught…

In this interview, George Madaus explains how the misuse of tests corrupts the inferences drawn from them. He calls for cost-benefit evaluations of high stakes tests and challenges educators to seek better accountability methods, test student samples, use multiple indicators, and include teacher judgment in the process. (MLH)

Assessment reforms might fail because high stakes will be attached to them too soon, judgments will be unreliable, and lawsuits will occur. Educators need to consider technical issues including score reliability, task validity, portfolio sampling, and generalizability problems. U.S. schools would improve considerably if national Advanced Placement…

Presents the case of Daryl, a fourth grader who performs well in daily classroom work, but cannot tolerate testing. Because of New York State testing mandates, this child will probably repeat fourth grade or be assigned to special education classes. Clearly, alternative measures building on children's strengths are needed. Includes two references.…

A perusal of the national testing proposals discloses great variety as to testing purposes and methods, voluntariness testing age and grade, subject areas to be tested, responsible parties, and financing. Advantages and disadvantages of U.S. national testing proposals are discussed and contrasted with European approaches. (14 references) (MLH)

In today's political climate, standardized tests are inadequate and misleading as achievement measures. Educators should employ a variety of measures, improve standardized test content and format, and remove incentives for teaching to the test. Focusing on raising test scores distorts instruction and renders scores less credible. Includes 13…

Educators who value student work that displays ingenuity and complexity must look beyond "standards" for evidence of achievement. Work of this kind requires exercise of critical judgment based on certain criteria. Applying criteria is a more complicated and intellectual enterprise than applying a standard. Developmental characteristics of…

Deploring standardized testing deficiencies, the author obtained state funding to adapt England's Primary Language Record assessment to U.S. classrooms and piloted the literacy portion throughout California. Now 20 schools and districts across 8 states employ the Learning Record Assessment, accompanied by parental-involvement and…