This article shows a graph of the _scaled_ scores on the NAEP Math test. The _scaled_ scores remained flat. He then uses that fact to show that students are about as good at math now as they were 35 years ago.
There's just no fucking connection.
It's true that the scaled scores have remained the same, but all that shows is that the group of people taking the test now is about as diversely-skilled in mathematics as they were in 1978. For all we know, the raw scores could have plummeted 50%.
The only thing we can conclude from this graph is that the test _itself_ is just about as good at ranking students as it was 30 years ago, and, maybe, that student math-skill-diversity has remained constant. The "bell curve" is the same shape as it was yesterday. But that doesn't mean it hasn't been bitch-slapped to the left. To the left.
The only thing we can conclude from this article is that the author doesn't know shit about statistics. We can't conclude anything about General Plastics, or any other military commander.
SOURCE: Psychometrics is my bitch.
TL;DR - Kids might suck more at math than before, or not; the relevant data isn't in this article.
Learn. The. Fucking. Difference.
This article shows a graph of the _scaled_ scores on the NAEP Math test. The _scaled_ scores remained flat. He then uses that fact to show that students are about as good at math now as they were 35 years ago.
There's just no fucking connection.
It's true that the scaled scores have remained the same, but all that shows is that the group of people taking the test now is about as diversely-skilled in mathematics as they were in 1978. For all we know, the raw scores could have plummeted 50%.
The only thing we can conclude from this graph is that the test _itself_ is just about as good at ranking students as it was 30 years ago, and, maybe, that student math-skill-diversity has remained constant. The "bell curve" is the same shape as it was yesterday. But that doesn't mean it hasn't been bitch-slapped to the left. To the left.
The only thing we can conclude from this article is that the author doesn't know shit about statistics. We can't conclude anything about General Plastics, or any other military commander.
SOURCE: Psychometrics is my bitch.
TL;DR - Kids might suck more at math than before, or not; the relevant data isn't in this article.