Thousands of fourth graders in Boston will be re-taking the state’s standardized MCAS test because a question involving snow days on the original was perceived as culturally biased against kids from warmer climates who have never seen snow, reports the New York Times.
The question, on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, asked students to "write a story about a snow day off from school that you remember."
Educators said students who have emigrated from countries with warm climates were put at a disadvantage by the question. Wilfredo T. Laboy, superintendent of the predominantly Spanish-speaking Lawrence district, said: "I believe it is culturally biased. For kids from Santo Domingo, Southeast Asia or other warm climates, what do they say about snow?"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,84632,00.html
The question, on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, asked students to "write a story about a snow day off from school that you remember."
Educators said students who have emigrated from countries with warm climates were put at a disadvantage by the question. Wilfredo T. Laboy, superintendent of the predominantly Spanish-speaking Lawrence district, said: "I believe it is culturally biased. For kids from Santo Domingo, Southeast Asia or other warm climates, what do they say about snow?"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,84632,00.html
