April 22, 2004 - On Tuesday, New York City's schools had testing day for third-graders. Apparently, some parents who feared failure threatened to keep the kids home from school (but, it turned out, attendance for the day was normal); in other words, boycott the test. Instead of making sure the children were prepared to take on the challenges of a test, some parents feel the need to teach the children another lesson - if something is hard, then just avoid it instead of trying to conquer it. Seems like some parents don't oppose social promotion. Then, thanks these irresponsible parents and toxic televisions shows, the kids grow up thinking they are entitled to a good job all the while wondering why jobs go to India or China.

I heard a few people call into Sean Hannity and argue that a 50 minute test is not a good measure of what the child knows or has learned. These are probably the same people who believe that low I.Q. can be used to prove lack of intelligence but high I.Q. cannot be used to prove above average intelligence.*

Most people agree that doctors, in general, are smart.

Doctors score, on average, 120 on I.Q. tests.

A person, who is not a doctor, scores 120 or higher on an I.Q. test.

Is that person smart?

Testing is always marred in controversy. Nowadays it's "if you fail, blame the test." If you're afraid of failing, stay home with mommy and emerge after Grade 12. Then, some will tell you it's ok that you can't read or write after twelve years of schooling and will try to sell the taxpayers on government sponsored job training programs. After the training, the local plant closes down and sends 140 jobs to some city in China or a financial firm opens an office in Bangalore for 225 accounting and office positions. Maybe these companies would keep more jobs here if people who were socially promoted wouldn't think they are entitled to decent jobs. Why pay an American who can't read or write $12 an hour when you can pay an educated Indian $3.75 an hour? Why bother hiring people who were taught that someone like parents, school districts with their social promotion policy, and the government, will bail you out if you don't want to learn?

"Three generations of imbeciles are enough" a noted jurist once said. Passing someone so you won't hurt their feelings is unacceptable. Fail the test, then go back and learn the material again. Efforts should not be wasted on those who can't or refuse to learn.

By the way, the passing score on these tests is 40%.

* See this column by Ann Coulter: Murdering the Bell Curve