Ward A, Edmonton Public School Trustee Candidate
Sprucewood Public Library Terminal #XVII
Edmonton, Alberta
August IXth, MMX
Hon. David G. Hancock, QC, MLA
Minister of Education,
Progressive Conservative, Edmonton-Whitemud
Dear David:
I arrived at the Financial Bvilding this morning about 08:35AM MDT to challenge the Biology XXX (30) Exam & was chatting with a couple of students in the Lobby & outside the Exam Room in the Foyer of the VIIIth (8th) floor. They were telling me that they agreed with me that the Written Response should be returned II all science based & mathematical based exams. That the strictly Numerical Response/Multiple Choice exams were not fair. I agreed & pointed out to them and some of the teachers/exam administrators walking by that in real life, mathematical & science based career students would have II solve problems in a long form format. For instance in technical schools, colleges, & university's: students in these classes are given this type of problem by their Instructor/Professor all the time. So its just simple logic to return the exams II a partially Written Response format.
In my opinion David, you cannot as I have said put a price on education & if Minister of Finance Theodore (Ted) Morton has II shovel a few million dollars more over II Alberta Education to ensure that the exams are as fair (& challenging/stimulating) as possible to each student's mind/olifactory senses, then so be it. You put a test from MMII (2002) on the internet IV Applied Math XXX (30) for students II study with a Written Response section, students study IV that section & yet do not have II face it on the respective exam day, IV Applied Math or any Science subject? How is this reasonable or even ethical? That exam is VIII years old, clearly in MMX (2010) its outdated & outmoded. Actually, its a case of staggering bureaucratic incompetence & underlings who are trying II cheapen the value of education IV our Alberta students.
I agree that passing level differentiation with Written Response & without has been negligible. But I have taken the extraordinary step of actually filing formal complaints about this matter with the Transcription Unit, CSP Help Desk & your cabinet & constituency offices. II further emphasize my disagreement with your Department's decision, I have written complaints right into the Exam Challenge Booklets themselves & their Official Tear Sheets. Kids need II write & cojutate, not just blindly throw in numbers & letters on course exam errata sheets. We can't figure out who is truly the best of our students and who needs more teaching assistance without written questions & responses!
Graciously,
Rory
Source: Www.Education.Alberta.Ca.
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