<p>In this regard, I think the SAT merely reflects reality. There is much better parental involvement and education in the rich, advantaged high schools. Not to mention opportunities that are available outside of school. Some inner city schools are just horrible. Those kids just don't have the opportunities or quality of education. They are not likely to have parents with the interest or resources to provide music lessons, ballet classes, science camps, etc. Life is not fair and a standardized exam cannot be made which somehow compensates for these differences. Should we just try to test IQ and give up with testing prepardness?</p>
<p>Am I the only one to find Dr Weisbuch's comments a bit whiney?</p>
<p>Okay, I'll admit I'm working from different information from most here, having taken two classes with him, plus having him as my major Master's thesis advisor, but I don't see "whiney". I think these are explorations of important questions about education in America. </p>
<p>I would think most would agree with him about the over-importance of USNWR. I have ambivalence on the SAT question, though I get the issues--Drew, I believe, is SAT optional, in fact I saw elswhere today an aarticle showing how their Af-Am enrollment has gone way up since they did this. And I'm even more ambivalent on merit aid; I get why schools do it, but from the viewpoint of finite resources, I have trouble justifying it.</p>
<p>Anyway, wherever one stands, they are issues worth talking about.</p>
<p>
[quote]
How would I be "aware" of Vince Young academic inferiority ... by being a football fan?
[/quote]
one suggestion ... Google "Vince Young" and "Wonderlic" ... that should lead to at least lots of speculation.</p>
<p>BTW - a better example would have been Gary Anderson ... he was a NFL running back in the 80s who attended Arkansas (I'm not sure if he graduated) for 4-5 years. He had a lot of trouble learning plays when he got to the NFL ... the reason ... the team had him tested and found out he was functionally illiterate ... academically eligible to play in college for years and couldn't read a lick. Fortunatley the NCAA has come a long way since then but it is a horror story. (FYI - one of Gary's NFL teams eventually helped him learn to read)</p>
<p>"Now, I'd like to know wonderful magical power you may possess that made YOU aware of the academic inferiority of Vince Young. Actually, I am pretty darn sure you know absolutely nothing about Vince(nt) Young."</p>
<p>xiggi, I have a very special magic power. It's the ability to read. Every morning, a stack of paper with words printed on it is delivered to my front door. It's called a "newspaper." Among the many intresting topics covered in this "newspaper" are sporting events and stories about athletes. Sometimes there are colorful pictures in this newspaper. Magazines are also fun to read. And the internet, too! As the national championship game was being hyped and the NFL draft was ongoing, it was very difficult to pick up these "newspapers" and magazines and not read about Vince Young. </p>
<p>On a serious note, I find it shameful that many football factory colleges use, abuse, and discard vulnerable young men. Basketball programs are guilty, too. The NCAA has a long way to go toward correcting these abuses.</p>