Comments on: Don’t Discriminate. http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:15:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: www bwinpoker http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-2591 www bwinpoker Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:44:38 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-2591 <strong>www bwinpoker...</strong> social:side trades solos?shake younger ... www bwinpoker…

social:side trades solos?shake younger …

]]> By: american guaranty life insurance company or http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-2403 american guaranty life insurance company or Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:58:09 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-2403 <strong>american guaranty life insurance company or...</strong> oranges?mutton farmland evenings galleries ... american guaranty life insurance company or…

oranges?mutton farmland evenings galleries …

]]> By: casino online bonus omaggio http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-2306 casino online bonus omaggio Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:36:45 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-2306 <strong>casino online bonus omaggio...</strong> petal?subsistence matrix thats,ridiculous ... casino online bonus omaggio…

petal?subsistence matrix thats,ridiculous …

]]> By: David Colborne http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-1003 David Colborne Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:40:03 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-1003 Ah - you're back! Goes to show long it's been since I visited. GPA does have one practical application - it's one of the few metrics we have to take a wild stab at predicting how well a student will do in school. All else being equal, a student that consistently pulls down a 2.5 in high school is probably going to struggle more in college than a student that consistently pulls down a 4.0 in high school. That doesn't necessarily mean the student with the 4.0 is smarter than the person with the 2.5. It does mean, though, that there's a pretty solid chance that the 4.0 student can handle the workload of college better than the student with the 2.5 average. Besides, I came from a mediocre high school. The college attendance rate of Pahrump Valley High School, at least when I graduated, was less than 20%. Getting high marks and accolades was much, much easier there than it would've been if I went to a school with any sort of real academic history. It takes a lot less to stand out and get attention from teachers when most everyone is just a bunch of screwups. Ah - you’re back! Goes to show long it’s been since I visited.

GPA does have one practical application - it’s one of the few metrics we have to take a wild stab at predicting how well a student will do in school. All else being equal, a student that consistently pulls down a 2.5 in high school is probably going to struggle more in college than a student that consistently pulls down a 4.0 in high school. That doesn’t necessarily mean the student with the 4.0 is smarter than the person with the 2.5. It does mean, though, that there’s a pretty solid chance that the 4.0 student can handle the workload of college better than the student with the 2.5 average.

Besides, I came from a mediocre high school. The college attendance rate of Pahrump Valley High School, at least when I graduated, was less than 20%. Getting high marks and accolades was much, much easier there than it would’ve been if I went to a school with any sort of real academic history. It takes a lot less to stand out and get attention from teachers when most everyone is just a bunch of screwups.

]]> By: Gary http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-851 Gary Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:54:52 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-851 I definitely agree that there is something wrong with the lower levels of education, and that they don't really offer an equal opportunity for all. However, as I said, I think that needs to be fixed there, not in higher education. If you can't get a 3.0 or higher in high school, then you need to spend a little time in a community college and get yourself in order, then transfer to a four year school. It's not like changing the minimum GPA completely denies admission to those who fail to meet it. They just have to work harder. I personally went to a high school with a large Native American and Hispanic population. Several of them simply did not try as hard as they could because they felt they didn't need to. There was nothing really preventing them from going to college. At the same time, I knew several who exerted just as much effort as anyone else but could not afford to go to college. This is where assistance based on financial need works, but not based on race. That said, my view is idealistic. But if we don't have something to try for, what's the point? :-) I definitely agree that there is something wrong with the lower levels of education, and that they don’t really offer an equal opportunity for all. However, as I said, I think that needs to be fixed there, not in higher education. If you can’t get a 3.0 or higher in high school, then you need to spend a little time in a community college and get yourself in order, then transfer to a four year school. It’s not like changing the minimum GPA completely denies admission to those who fail to meet it. They just have to work harder.

I personally went to a high school with a large Native American and Hispanic population. Several of them simply did not try as hard as they could because they felt they didn’t need to. There was nothing really preventing them from going to college. At the same time, I knew several who exerted just as much effort as anyone else but could not afford to go to college. This is where assistance based on financial need works, but not based on race.

That said, my view is idealistic. But if we don’t have something to try for, what’s the point? :-)

]]> By: Livia http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-849 Livia Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:35:39 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-849 furthermore, I can't believe I just typed all that when you're sitting in a chair across the living room. Oh, the series of tubes. furthermore, I can’t believe I just typed all that when you’re sitting in a chair across the living room. Oh, the series of tubes.

]]> By: Livia http://micander.com/blog/2008/06/17/dont-discriminate/#comment-848 Livia Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:34:00 +0000 http://micander.com/blog/?p=30#comment-848 Of course, I have to come play to the other side. Do you think that maybe it's more than intelligence or effort to get a 3.0? The argument that they're making, I think, is that so often minorities are relegated to underperforming schools. I went to a very nice public school, our county (at the time) was second best in the state based on standardized test scores. It was in a quasi-affluent area, and while not perfect, the school had good teachers and wasn't exactly in a state of disrepair. It was a great learning environment where people truly had an opportunity to flourish. I can probably count all the minorities at our 3000 strong school on my fingers and toes. While as always I see where your argument is, what happens if someone who was in a bad school, never was challenged or motivated to do something better could have the true opportunity to flourish in a college? We're now saying that some arbitrary system (I mean, really, tell me the practical, real-world application of GPA. ) can deny someone entry to an institution where they could indeed expand and grow as a person and become a fantastic productive member of society? There are plenty of people in college who are only there because they're expected to be, or because you basically have to have that piece of paper to get anywhere. Sadly our system does not give credit to tech/vocational schools, nor is enough emphasis being placed on the infinitely wise choice of community colleges. I personally feel that the expectation of a college degree to get many of the jobs that will support someone (but not all by any means) cheapens the value of a degree. There are surely people that may have received a 3.0 or better in highschool that need remedial classes in college, which I personally find insulting. Institutions of higher learning shouldn't have remedial english classes, but that seems to be a testament to our system. In summation, I hate stupid arbitrary grading systems, I see the NAACP's point, and I'm tired. :D Of course, I have to come play to the other side. Do you think that maybe it’s more than intelligence or effort to get a 3.0? The argument that they’re making, I think, is that so often minorities are relegated to underperforming schools. I went to a very nice public school, our county (at the time) was second best in the state based on standardized test scores. It was in a quasi-affluent area, and while not perfect, the school had good teachers and wasn’t exactly in a state of disrepair. It was a great learning environment where people truly had an opportunity to flourish. I can probably count all the minorities at our 3000 strong school on my fingers and toes. While as always I see where your argument is, what happens if someone who was in a bad school, never was challenged or motivated to do something better could have the true opportunity to flourish in a college? We’re now saying that some arbitrary system (I mean, really, tell me the practical, real-world application of GPA. ) can deny someone entry to an institution where they could indeed expand and grow as a person and become a fantastic productive member of society? There are plenty of people in college who are only there because they’re expected to be, or because you basically have to have that piece of paper to get anywhere. Sadly our system does not give credit to tech/vocational schools, nor is enough emphasis being placed on the infinitely wise choice of community colleges. I personally feel that the expectation of a college degree to get many of the jobs that will support someone (but not all by any means) cheapens the value of a degree. There are surely people that may have received a 3.0 or better in highschool that need remedial classes in college, which I personally find insulting. Institutions of higher learning shouldn’t have remedial english classes, but that seems to be a testament to our system.

In summation, I hate stupid arbitrary grading systems, I see the NAACP’s point, and I’m tired. :D

]]>