Why Do Teachers Have the Lowest SAT Scores Among College Kids?

Question

I can't think of a single kid who was in the top 1/2 of my class who became a teacher.

I went to a large university. The kids used to make fun of the kids in the "College of Education." It was widely viewed that future teachers had the lowest SATs on average.

Does this have something to do with why teachers end up being Democrats?

http://www.reformk12.com/archives/000094.nclk

Kawii, you sound far from the average teacher. By the way, will it take you 200 years to earn enough to pay for that education?

Answer 1

Just remember that Einstein was a democrat.

Answer 2

OK, I'M a teacher and I'm NOT a Democrat! Second, my undergraduate SAT scores were not the best. My undergrad degree is in Journalism and I earned it with a "B" average. My masters is in Education and I earned it with a 4.0. I taught for 14 years before I took time off to have a child.

SAT scores do not adequately assess the intelligence or the abilities of students. They are an easy standardized test for colleges and universities not to have to give their own entrance exams. There are many, many people who got high SAT scores who were not able to cut it in college and/or the real world.

As for students making fun of other students in other schools at college, there's nothing new about that. We journalism students used to make fun of the Radio, Television, and Film students who were on the "5 year plan," a reference to the USSR's economic plan and students who seemed to be in college forever!

Further, allow me to point out that both student loans are fully paid off. I also don't feel that going to Columbia and/or having high SAT scores qualifies you as the "academic elite." I dare her to go to work in a big city, inner city public school and see how long the "academic elite" lasts.

Answer 3

Your mixing apples and banana here. Top half of the class and SAT scores are to different things. One can have a high SAT and low GPA, and one can have a high GPA and low SAT.

I know people who did very well in school and went into education (almost straght A) and those who barely made it through. For those who barely made it through the motivation for them was almost always that they had a few great teachers and many that they did not conect with and wanted to make school a better place than the one they attended.

It is true that many people who dedicate their lives to helping others such as teachers & nurses are democrats.

Answer 4

Do you have proof of your statement with statistics to back it up? If you were actually ever in college classroom you'd know that you need ample proof to back up such claims.
And, you do know that the SAT's are performed BEFORE the would be teachers go to college don't you? And, you do know the SAT's are not intelligence tests don't you? This site has so many logic problems embedded within it's argument that it is funny that even a math and science educator like 'Chett' couldn't point it out.

Answer 5

to address your several points individually:

1) teachers have lower SAT scores because they don't specialize in either area. they're not trying to impress the rest of the world with their vocabulary or calculus skills.

2) that's great. the plural of anecdote is not data.

3) you went to a large school, that's great. lots of large schools are terrible. i went to a small liberal arts/teaching school. the difference? i know better than to judge the entire population.

4) it was "widely viewed"? you mean "a lot of us had no evidence but we thought this anyway"...or "a bunch of people in the business schools who couldn't find their way around the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, or LAST, with a map decided that we needed to indulge our insecurity, so the ed majors worked nicely..."

5) for someone with such a great education that you speak of, i'd hope that question would follow more clearly from its evidence...

Answer 6

SAT? you mean that 3 hour test they make you take at the end of you last year in High school, when you are happy that high school is almost over, and looking forward to not taking any more tests, especially ones that aren't for a grade???

Answer 7

they definitely count both a lot, but i think they place more importance on your transcript. and it isn't just grades, but class load, so having all A's in academic / a few honors classes isn't what they're looking for. they don't mind B's and A's in tons of AP and honors classes. but SAT's are still something they look at. i'd aim for at least 2000 for the top colleges, and over 700 on your SAT II's.

Answer 8

That was true 50 years ago. Programs like Teach for America and various other teaching fellows program have changed all of that.

I had a 3.8 undergrad and got a 4.1 at Columbia for my MA in education (they give A+ = 4.3). All of my colleagues went to top colleges and universities where I teach. We are the academic elite.

Edit: I had scholarships for undergrad and a fellowship for my grad. I'm in decent shape economically. I am not the modern exception, we are becoming the norm.

Answer 9

A better question would be to ask whether it matters. Assuming that intelligence is a desirable element for a teacher, there are still others skills/qualities that are desirable, wouldn't you agree?

Among those desirable qualities could be organization, empathy, patience, etc. So, I guess your point is moot.

Answer 10

well the democrats comment is untrue where I live they are republicans. This perhaps generates some doubt about the validity of your other comments. The exist on a spectrum of intelligence.

Answer 11

I have to admit, I truely enjoy reading your silly rants, and watching people tear you to shreads afterwards.
Are you the person that people invite to parties, so they have some entertainment by being able to belittle someone to their face, without that person actually realizing they were insulted??