Red Dawn
Senior Member
The Rightwing Position (their logic as articulated on other threads): Standardized testing ACT scores consistently show lower test scores in bible belt and southern states. Even bible belt states with mostly WHITE populations (Kentucky, Oklahoma, West Virginia) score below national averages.
Rightwing Conclusion: Bible belt WHITES are inherently stupider than whites in most northern and coastal liberal states. Standardized testing PROVES it.
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My Position: Standardized tests do NOT measure inherent intelligence; they reflect the environment students grow up in, the educational system they have access to, the participation rates, and biases in test methods and procedures.
My conclusion: Bible belt whites are NOT inherently stupider. Its not genetic inbreeding, their southern heritage, or anything in the water down there that makes their test scores suck.
expand or contribute
ACT National and State Scores for 2008: Average ACT Scores by State
Rightwing Conclusion: Bible belt WHITES are inherently stupider than whites in most northern and coastal liberal states. Standardized testing PROVES it.
**************************************************************
My Position: Standardized tests do NOT measure inherent intelligence; they reflect the environment students grow up in, the educational system they have access to, the participation rates, and biases in test methods and procedures.
My conclusion: Bible belt whites are NOT inherently stupider. Its not genetic inbreeding, their southern heritage, or anything in the water down there that makes their test scores suck.
expand or contribute
ACT National and State Scores for 2008: Average ACT Scores by State