High school graduates who say they intend to major in education score in the bottom third compared to 36 other intended majors, according to the SAT data released last week. Nationally, intended education majors finished 25th in reading, 27th in math and a combined 57 points below the national average in both.
The numbers in Florida: 26th in reading, 30th in math.
Students often change majors, of course. But is it a stretch to suggest the SAT scores are another sign the best and brightest don't want to teach? This recent study, which looked at the SAT scores of beginning teachers, is a better measure of that and also highlights the trends. Read here for a summary.
- Ron Matus, state education reporter
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Get inside the world of Florida education with St. Petersburg Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek and the rest of the Times education reporting team. We'll bring you up-to-date information about the latest education trends, fads and news and dig deep into Tampa Bay area school issues.
What bunk. I had a very average SAT score. I decided that college wasn't for me and went into the Army. I did my time and then decided that I did, after all, need a higher education. I went to college, worked very hard and graduated with a 3.75 GPA. I went into education after graduation. Am I stupid because of a test I took before I had really "grown up"? I don't think so and I am positive my students don't think so. Look further into the numbers.
Posted by: Sandra | September 05, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Nice...let's bash the ones who work with our kids a little more. They get paid so much...what are a few insults.
Posted by: Rae | September 04, 2008 at 10:18 PM
No offense 4:43 but your comment is full of grammatical and punctuation errors. That does not reflect well on the profession at all and supports the SAT results.
Posted by: | September 03, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Thank you 10:04. If I remember right, my SAT was near the top. I also remember deciding in the end what major would make my life complete. Is money or my contribution to society the most important thing. Now, some may say that my choose of contribution is evidence that I am not as intelligent as others. I do not think so. I make sacrifices because I love what I do. Do I think it is right that this noble and important profession is so underpaid and disrespected - No. I will not, however, allow that to alter what I do.
A test score measures what a person can do that day, under those conditions. I could have taken it a day or two later and gotten a different score - for better or worse.
Posted by: | September 03, 2008 at 04:43 PM
This makes my stomach turn.
Now ask the questions that really matter:
How many who THOUGHT they were going to be teachers (and tested at this level) actually became teachers?
How many thought they would not be teachers and well, ended up being teachers? How did they score?
Those who can, teach.
Those who can not run rackets, wars and churches.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Festival of idiots.... lol, I like that one!
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 07:00 PM
What a shock. I know I'm REALLY surprised a majority of teachers are stupid. Oh wait...
35k a year doesn't exactly attract people of above average intelligence. To get even deeper, most of the people accountable for teachers are former teachers themselves. It's all a festival of idiots.
Posted by: Chuck | September 02, 2008 at 03:04 PM
This is largely a PR stunt by the College Board to reinforce the political legitimacy of the SATs. As you note, there's a difference in high school intentions and what happens in college. And is there any research on the predictive validity of high-school SAT scores for beginning teachers' staying power in school or their children's success? Hmmn...
Posted by: Sherman Dorn | September 02, 2008 at 12:48 PM