"Are Whites Racially Opressed?" a.k.a. "How Hard Can CNN Troll?"

[Diff-chan]

once viewed an application to the University of Michigan which dictated required SAT scores for applicants. For a white person, it was 1100, for a black person, it was 700.

The idea behind policies like that, and it's not quite as clear cut as you say here (and in any case Michigan's specifically was struck down in court), is that SAT scores aren't perfect indicators of performance or ability. I know, obvious right, but schools need to control for that, especially public schools with missions to serve the entire state as opposed to strictly the upper crust.

A good student at The Wire High School will get a lower SAT score than a good student at 90210 Prep. This is statistically verifiable and well documented. The student at 90210 Prep is safer, can spend more time on schoolwork, probably works less, gets tutors for home, better teachers, etc. etc.

[Yoshi]

But the best student (not necessarily based on SAT scores) should always get the spot.

[Yoshi]

Look what you motherfuckers did.

I can't believe he made a coherent post that long. I don't necessarily agree, but it actually makes sense.

[Diff-chan]

How do you figure it out though? One kid lives in a mansion and gets tutors, has a million extracurricular activities, and goes to Latin America for a summer to learn Spanish. The other kid has a brother in jail, has to walk past corners every day to get to school, and has no extracurricular programs at school because funding was cut to pay for tax cuts for millionaires.

I don't know of any foolproof way to find "the best student." BTW this obviously isn't a black/white thing. Black kids in the good schools get the benefits of being there.

[dave is ok]

There's also the argument that the tests themselves are catered to the average white student, and not minorities. Which, while probably true in the 60's or 70's, I think is pretty much bullshit at this point.

[Yoshi]

How do you figure it out though? One kid lives in a mansion and gets tutors, has a million extracurricular activities, and goes to Latin America for a summer to learn Spanish. The other kid has a brother in jail, has to walk past corners every day to get to school, and has no extracurricular programs at school because funding was cut to pay for tax cuts for millionaires.

I don't know of any foolproof way to find "the best student." BTW this obviously isn't a black/white thing. Black kids in the good schools get the benefits of being there.

It seems like it has to be something along the lines of IQ. I'd want the student with the best aptitude to learn, not the one who is book smart or, to your point, privileged in every way. You can't teach a kid to think, so give me the one who knows how. And frankly my bias there is analytical thinking. If that's not a skill the kid possesses, get him in a vocational school, as he's a waste of a higher education. I'd rather have a student who applied analytical thinking to selling drugs than one who can't problem solve but studies four hours for every test to get an A.

[Razor Ramon]

It seems like it has to be something along the lines of IQ. I'd want the student with the best aptitude to learn, not the one who is book smart or, to your point, privileged in every way. You can't teach a kid to think, so give me the one who knows how. And frankly my bias there is analytical thinking. If that's not a skill the kid possesses, get him in a vocational school, as he's a waste of a higher education. I'd rather have a student who applied analytical thinking to selling drugs than one who can't problem solve but studies four hours for every test to get an A.

Analytical thinking isn't necessary for all higher education. For some it isn't even important. And analytical skills can be taught. It's why it's called a skill:

skill (skl)
n.
1. Proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience. See Synonyms at ability.
2.
a. An art, trade, or technique, particularly one requiring use of the hands or body.
b. A developed talent or ability: writing skills.
3. Obsolete A reason; a cause.

[Brisco Bold]

Look what you motherfuckers did.

I was waiting for this.

[Drewbacca]

This is always amusing to me. For some reason White people separate themselves less than Hispanic people, despite the fact that in our backgrounds we actually speak different languages. I strongly identify myself as French, but I am a bit of a minority in the issue.

Yeah I don't think this is true at all. Most white people know their ancestral background and wear it proudly. They just don't identify themselves as that first and foremost because it's of marginal importance. You're American first and foremost. The opposite is true in Canada. Most people are identified by their background and subculture first before being Canadian.

[Bojack]

How do you figure it out though? One kid lives in a mansion and gets tutors, has a million extracurricular activities, and goes to Latin America for a summer to learn Spanish. The other kid has a brother in jail, has to walk past corners every day to get to school, and has no extracurricular programs at school because funding was cut to pay for tax cuts for millionaires.

I don't know of any foolproof way to find "the best student." BTW this obviously isn't a black/white thing. Black kids in the good schools get the benefits of being there.

60 Minutes did a piece the other day that focused on my neck of the woods and our staggering homeless problem. Economic oppression is the larger issue here. There is still sexism and racism yes. Poverty is an equal opportunity oppressor.