the sats
(midwest.social)
(midwest.social)
If you need another reason to hate HOA's (I know right, another reason? So generous!), they're also fairly racist in origin.
https://www.npr.org/2021/11/17/1049052531/racial-covenants-housing-discrimination
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_SAT
[Brigham] created the test to uphold a racial caste system. He advanced this theory of standardized testing as a means of upholding racial purity in his book A Study of American Intelligence. The tests, he wrote, would prove the racial superiority of white Americans and prevent "the continued propagation of defective strains in the present population"—chiefly, the "infiltration of white blood into the Negro".[13]
I bet you this dude would get shit SAT marks.
Unfortunately, because grades are up to the descretion of teachers, acutally avoiding standardized tests, like the SATs, ends up with more racist outcomes.
Grades and even worse, extra curriculars.
The effect is stronger by class than race if I remember
The actual solution once again is death to amerikkka
I think it's the tests, not that there are tests, that is criticized.
Otherwise I fully agree with you.
Out of curiosity, what's wrong with the tests? I'm not american
While SATs have become more "fair" than they were in the past, the test itself is only a test on how well you can take the SAT. It's not an accurate measurement of academics or knowledge, nor a predictor of how well a student will perform in college. Because of this, students who have access to outside resources, such as coaches and study guides, are at a significant advantage over students who do not. Further, you can take practice tests or retake the SAT as long as you can afford to.
So if you're just some kid who is smart, does well in school, but has no money to afford any of this stuff, you're seeing it all for the first and last time you take your SAT. Sitting next to you is some kid who's had after school prep coaches go over every part of the test, has taken multiple PSATs, and can take the test again if they don't like their score. Both of you will be compared to by college admission boards, as though you were on equal footing.
It doesn't help most of this is compounded by race. One student from a white family who themselves took the SAT and know how to support their child in taking it. And another student from a non-white family who is the first person to go to college because historically, their family members were legally denied entry into higher education.
Caveats that I took the tests in rural town in the Midwest over a decade ago and didn't think I saw anything unexpected for what it was trying to do: This is not first hand knowledge.
Past versions have been found to have questions that rely heavily on knowledge that wouldn't be obtained during standard primary education. The worst I'd heard about was knots used while boating. If you're not privileged enough to have that exposure, you're failing that one. No other reason to expect it there, so no reason to learn that.

Matrix chat room: https://matrix.to/#/#midwestsociallemmy:matrix.org
Communities from our friends:
LiberaPay link: https://liberapay.com/seahorse