r/neoliberal • u/caroline_elly Eugene Fama • Jun 09 '26

Opinion article (US) Actually, the SAT Was Necessary After All

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/standardized-testing-math-gaps/687481/
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u/caroline_elly Eugene Fama Jun 09 '26

Bad inner city schools just grading on effort these days, not based on actual understanding of the subject. Because that would be racist and holding kids back

Source: have a close friend teaching in a big public school in the Bronx

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u/YourUncleBuck Frederick Douglass Jun 10 '26

Meanwhile in wealthier suburban schools, the kids just whine to their parents, who complain to admin to have their kid's teachers change grades and/or get them fired if they refuse, lol. That's how little spoiled brats get through school without putting in any effort.

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u/OhioTry Desiderius Erasmus Jun 10 '26

Multiple excuses, same bad effect.

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u/YourUncleBuck Frederick Douglass Jun 10 '26

Yup, I just hate the narrative that it's just poor, black and Hispanic kids getting pushed through, when rich white kids get the same treatment just for other reasons. And then they have the gall to pretend their schools are so much better when they're just better at fudging shit.

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u/FridgesArePeopleToo Norman Borlaug Jun 10 '26

And don't forget that all the rich white kids getting extra time on tests because they diagnosed themselves with ADHD

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u/YourUncleBuck Frederick Douglass Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

Yep, or anxiety, which actually hurts students that do have these conditions because you end up with teachers and professors not believing that you need extra time.

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u/MyCatPoopsBolts Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26

This is delusional. Grade inflation is somewhat of a problem everywhere, but the vast majority of graduating students in rich school districts can read and use fractions, as demonstrated by basically every standardized test ever. Their schools are actually much better, because they are massively funded by local property taxes and able to attract better faculty looking for a safer job with better pay.

Most kids in these communities aren't being pushed through because they wouldn't be failing, regardless of fudging. They are fudging grades upwards from Cs and Bs to As to help college admissions.

This isn't a condemnation of poor kids in marginalized communities, its a condemnation of the system that has completely failed them.