Netscape News: the smartest states

[skipos]

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/package.jsp?floc=ns-tos-feat-b-01&name=fte/smartstates/smartstates

"These are the 2005-2006 findings of the Education State Rankings, a survey by Morgan Quitno Press of hundreds of public school systems in all 50 states. States were graded on 21 factors, including student achievement and attendance, positive outcomes, strong student-teacher relationships and school district efficiency. Other factors are the number of high school graduates, reading, writing and math proficiency, percent of school-age kids in public schools, high school drop out rates, student-teacher ratios and class size."

It is interesting that the top 10 has 8 blue states. The two red states have democratic governors (Mark Warner of Virginia, who seems to be very big on education, and Schweitzer of Montana). Maybe it is a fluke? :shrug:

1. Vermont
2. Connecticut
3. Massachusetts
4. New Jersey
5. Maine
6. Minnesota
7. Virginia
8. Wisconsin
9. Montana
10. New York

[EST]

1. Does Montana

really count as a state?

[jody]

2. Mission Accomplished, Alabama ranks above California.

41. Tennessee
42. Hawaii
43. Alabama
44. Alaska
45. Louisiana
46. California
47. Nevada
48. New Mexico
49. Mississippi
50. Arizona

[Wcross]

5. Yee-ha! My State is #41!

Damn it, we can't do nothin right- if you gonna be on the list be first or last!

[ultraist]

8. CA the BLUE state ranks lower than TN and AL?

:rofl:

[GRLMGC]

9. God, considering we have the 5th biggest economy in the world

it is completely disgraceful that we rank so low. I mean, I know some of those other states that rank low are impoverished but we can afford to fund education. I know we're in a budget crisis but there are certain things that are priorities.

[Earth_First]

3. Right ON! Another demeaning thread to wards those "red-staters"

Glad to know that everyone who drives a pickup truck, hunts/fishes, and lives south of the Mason/Dixon line is an ignorant, card-carrying NRA, GOP voting Republican...

Anyone else getting sick and tired of these threads?

:eyes:

[Qanisqineq]

6. me

I'm not getting sick of these threads, I've been sick of these threads for at least a year. I clicked on this thread and as soon as I did thought, "why do you put yourself through this?" But I am just one of those stupid red-state hicks.

[stepnw1f]

14. You Are Not "stupid red-state hicks."

[stepnw1f]

12. This Thread Does Not Say That

you do. This is about education and political affiliation. No insults...

[Clarkansas]

29. I think you are being hypersensitive

The article doesn't even mention red states or blue states, the results are certainly not "red states are dumb, blue states are smart" and no one has said anything like "everyone who drives a pickup truck, hunts/fishes, and lives south of the Mason/Dixon line is an ignorant, card-carrying NRA, GOP voting Republican" except for you.

[Craig3410]

49. Me too.

My state produced Bill Clinton; give us some credit!

[bigwillq]

4. Way to go CT!

:bounce:

[ultraist]

7. Well, lookey there, a SOUTHERN state in the TOP TEN

Hmmm...and not all of the bottom states are Southern states. Guess that puts a dent in the "The South is the most ignorant region" theory.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. It also blows all the negative illusions about Kansas out of the water

[pinniped]

10. Those pukes in the Orange County area are probably what sunk CA,...

if this list is accurate. I bet that POS Gropenator also played a roll.

Wasn't CA ranked #1 in science a couple weeks ago?

[Raine]

45. It goes back further than Arnie

I remember probably 20 years ago kids came to our door collecting money for school supplies (like pencils etc.) and I live in a affluent area. The Governors here have long diverted funds for schools to their own little pet projects, course with the exception of Brown and Davis those Governors have all been repukes since Raygun in the mid 60s! :-(

[stepnw1f]

11. This is Not Coincidental

Those communities, cities and states that invest in educational will have a more integrated, open-minded and curious populous.

Those communities that breed ignorance, fear and hatred will have a populous that is unaware, misinformed and willing to vote against their own interests.

Education is critical to Democracy.

[jody]

15. Is that why California is # 46? n/t

[stepnw1f]

19. It's Unfortunate That They are That Low

But then again, I know nothing about California or its education system. Do they invest enough money and time into education? Do they have more immigrants than any other state? Who knows why?

Are you trying to allude to something, if so, just say it. I don't mind having a honest discussion.

[proud patriot]

20. Well our Governor just stole multiple billions allocated to education

this last year .

[stepnw1f]

24. That's Sick

I do remember reading about that. Wealthy people love it when people are to uneducated to know what's going on around them. Republicans have done everything possible to destroy Public Education in order to privatize the system leaving many in slums for generations.

[Raine]

44. Also

all the lottery money that people voted to go to the schools didn't! :mad:

[jody]

22. My comment was to suggest that the grading system may be flawed. n/t

[stepnw1f]

25. Why is Alabama 43? (nt)

[jody]

28. Probably because it deserves it but I doubt California is that low. n/t

[stepnw1f]

32. Who Knows Jody

I would rather see every state at #1. This study is probably flawed therefore many here should not get too upset.

[jody]

33. I've studied Alabama's test scores for all schools and found that

per student spending does not account for a significant difference among test scores at schools.

I also found that the percent of students on free school lunches, a surrogate measure of poverty, accounts for about 65% of the variation in test scores.

I don't know about other states but Alabama's Department of Education has not yet told voters (1) what new topics will be taught and what dropped and (2) what new teaching processes will be adopted and what dropped, to improve education. That among other reasons has been a major obstacle to increasing the budget for education in Alabama.

[stepnw1f]

36. I Find It Hard to Believe

that funding education will not help schools. I do believe though it is not the only answer. I also believe those hired to teach make a huge difference in a students ability to learn. And of course, a students curriculum helps as well.

The right wing keeps stating that funding doesn't make a difference, so then what is the answer? Surely things are worse now under Bush and his gang. In fact it's looking as if every-child-has-been-left-behind and on purpose.

[jody]

37. Funding can make a difference iff it is spent effectively. It is hard for

me to understand that with as many PhDs and EdDs we've produced that none of their research has identified rock solid methods to teach basic courses like reading, writing, science, and math.

If we do have such solutions, then our state department of education is grossly derelict in not informing voters about them.

[GRLMGC]

23. Its underfunded

Thanks to Arnold. We used to rank pretty decently but cuts have definitely been made. I'm a college student and I've felt it financially so I can imagine how the teachers have felt them.

[stepnw1f]

27. I Bet

Here's hoping for better days for you guys and gals. Get a DEM in there.

[ultraist]

21. Integrated? NYC has the most segregated public schools in the nation

The best public schools in NY are out in the counties, like Westchester which are all WHITE. It's a very elitist system, not democratic in the least.

[GRLMGC]

26. That's a good point

The disparity between the inner cities and rich communities is incredible. The way schools are funded is inherently unequal as well. When someone can pay property taxes, then of course the schools will be better funded.

[stepnw1f]

30. Integration is Excellent for Education

Even if you are right about NY it still stands that integration opens minds.

[jody]

35. That may be true as a general statement but I fail to see how integration

in whatever form has a significant effect on science and math as special topics. Science and math are are the weakest areas when poor states are compared to rich states.

[stepnw1f]

38. In General it is Beneficial

because it open's one's mind to the World around them. Segregation does the opposite by harbouring fear and ignorance of the World around them.

Fear and ignorance can keep one from excelling in any study. Interesting that you fail to see that.

I believe there have been studies that show students doing better in an integrated environment as opposed to a segrated environment.

I do not believe in forcing integration however I do still believe it helps in more way than one.

[jody]

39. I agree in general but I'm unconvinced re science/math. n/t

[stepnw1f]

40. Surely, Segregation Doesn't Help?

And surely, integration is not going to hurt either.

[jody]

41. I believe we are talking about different topics. As regards science/math,

I am not convinced that segregation or integration makes any difference for GT students.

I see that I was talking about a special issue on which I'm working, education opportunities for GT students. That 2-3 percent of our population will produce the scientists, scholars, and engineers that will take us into the 22nd Century. In Alabama, we are neglecting them.

In that sense, I drifted into my narrow interest. I agree with you as regards science/math for the general student population.

[stepnw1f]

43. Jody... Happy New Year from Boston, MA! (nt)

[jody]

48. Happy New Year from Alabama.

:party:

[sakabatou]

13. Hey, Ahnold

I guess your education plan isn't working... :puke:

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. HOORAY!! Kansas is #13!!!

See, I told you we aren't dumb here. Dipshits and fundies, yes. But dumbies? No friggin way!!

:bounce:

[lanlady]

18. hurray for home state of CT

and for the one I live in now, VA!!

The school system in Northern Va is top-notch.

[OKNancy]

31. Funny article by Dave Barry about this survey

http://www.poly.rpi.edu/article_view.php3?view=1747&part=1


Last two paragraphs
5. Presence in the State of an Enormous Twine Ball: This indicator applies to states where a resident, seeking to set a world’s record for largest ball of twine, spent literally years of his life wrapping twine into an enormous ball that wound up weighing more than eight tons; and then, when the individual died, the community, instead of quietly transporting the ball to a landfill and leaving it there, not only built a public gazebo to display the ball as a tourist attraction, but also created an annual festival to celebrate it. According to the Internet site http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ there are—believe it or not—two such states: Minnesota, where the residents of Darwin celebrate “Twine Ball Days;” and Kansas, where the residents of Cawker City hold a “Twine-a-Thon.”

So which state, when we weigh all these factors, is the stupidest? This question has no easy answer. No, wait, it does: Kansas. I say this not so much because of the twine ball, but because Lawrence, Kansas, is the home of “Morgan Quitno Press.” Consequently it gets a lot of votes. At least the way we count them here in Florida.

[depakid]

34. The survey isn't about academic acheivement

although there are the inevitable correlations in many cases.

[William Bloode]

42. Not bad for my state at 22.

We used to rank right there at the bottom in the 70's, and early 80's. We have great schools in the more industrial centers like Greensboro, Winston, Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, etc. But in more poor agricultural areas it can be pathetic. We might be top 10-15 if we had a more consistent system.

[HR_Pufnstuf]

46. Hmm, who was the Governor of VT?

nt.

[Catherine Vincent]

47. Texas is number 24

...not bad.