My co-columnist Lisa Pampuch makes several points in her column
of April 3, two of which I agree with: first, our society lacks
critical thinking skills. Secondly: the California High School Exit
Exam is a low-level test, as it tests only 8th grade math skills
and 10th grade (or so it claims) English.
My co-columnist Lisa Pampuch makes several points in her column of April 3, two of which I agree with: first, our society lacks critical thinking skills. Secondly: the California High School Exit Exam is a low-level test, as it tests only 8th grade math skills and 10th grade (or so it claims) English.
(I would expect a high school sophomore to read and write much better than the level required to pass the CAHSEE, but then, my standards are higher than those of the state of California.)
I disagree with Ms. Pampuch’s assertions that requiring passage of the CAHSEE is a silly exercise and that there is no sense in spending
limited resources in administering such a low-level test.
Prior to mandating passage of this low-level test, we were handing diplomas to students who could not multiply 13 by 4 or read and understand “The Call of the Wild.” Now the historically low-achieving students are buckling down and learning these elementary skills, because they want a gown, a walk, a handshake and a piece of paper. Go figure.
Possibly it is only a coincidence that Gilroy High School’s similar school’s index went up two points this year while every other school in Gilroy stayed the same or fell. But maybe the concentrated effort of the lowest-achieving students has resulted in all students attaining the elementary skills they need early enough to benefit from secondary school instruction. Or maybe there is a totally different cause, but requiring the CAHSEE certainly has not hurt academic performance.
I also disagree that the CAHSEE should test critical thinking skills. If ever we succeed in graduating seniors who can read accurately, write coherently, and solve quadratic equations, we can add logic, history and science to the test. At present, we cannot ensure that all graduating seniors can divide 2.68 by 12 without a calculator. First things first.
Mind, I agree that logic is sorely lacking in today’s society. I just do not agree that our schools are up to the task of teaching it.
Ms. Pampuch exhibits some of her own errors of logic in the column, the first when she takes a potshot at the “misleading, baseless shameful attack ads like the ones used against Vietnam war heroes (including) … Sen. John Kerry.”
First, Ms. Pampuch fails to support her point. Secondly, the eyewitness accounts of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are extremely credible. Thirdly, to castigate eyewitnesses in the terms employed by Ms. Pampuch constitutes an ad hominem attack.
In her column, Ms. Pampuch quotes two authorities, Thomas Jefferson and Buddha. Buddha says, in part: “Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.” So, to lend credence to her argument, Ms. Pampuch is quoting an authority who says not to believe what the authorities say. Mind boggling.
In point of fact, it is perfectly legitimate to believe things on good authority. Authorities may be eyewitnesses, such as the Swift Boat Veterans. Or they may have expert knowledge. I believe many things merely on good authority.
I believe atoms and electrons exist, although I have never seen them. I believe that the earth has a molten core. I believe that the Battle of Waterloo happened, that Wellington won it, and Napoleon lost it, even though no living witness remains alive to swear that it was so. I believe in the Battle of Waterloo on the basis of contemporaneous written accounts.
For the same reasons I believe that Jesus Christ walked the earth in the flesh during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, that he healed the sick and gave sight to the blind and raise d the dead. I believe that he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and that he died and was buried. On the third day he rose again and was seen by many.
I believe this on the basis of eyewitness accounts, the testimony of Mary Magdalene, Johanna, Mary the mother of John, Simon Peter, John, Cleopas, Thomas and the other disciples, about 500 others who witnessed the risen Lord and preserved their written accounts in the Gospels. He is risen indeed. Happy Easter.
