I would not read too much into the declining test scores of Marin public school kids insofar as it relates to students, teachers and administrators. It was a pandemic year and, let’s face it, it threw everyone off their game.
The state Department of Education recently reported that in 2020/21, 68% of Marin students took the test (which was optional).
In English, only 56.71% of the scores exceeded or were on par with the grade-level standards. Not good by Marin measure. Math scores were worse. Less than half (46.18%) of Marin students met the grade level standard. Very weak for Marin.
The last time Marin kids took the test (2018/19) grades were almost 10 points better in English and almost 12 points better in math.
There’s an obvious lesson here and it has to do with stability in public education. I guess no one knows what the future will bring when it comes to pandemics, but let’s try to remember that if you disrupt in-person learning, the education of children suffers in a major way.
Remote learning – especially for young children – just doesn’t cut it. I am sorry to predict that it will be tempting for some to try to work remote learning into regular public education. That would be a mistake.
There is no substitute for a stable, in-person school environment.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOVATO ADVANCE
The Novato Advance, one of Marinscope’s six local newspapers in Marin, is celebrating its 100th anniversary today. I am proud to be its owner/publisher on this day. Actually, I don’t like to call myself the “owner,” because a newspaper really belongs to the town. So, in that regard, I am glad to be part of the venerable newspaper’s celebration. Thank you, dear readers. We have a slew of subscribers who have been with us 50-plus years. We salute you.
On a whimsical side note, above you will find the oldest known photo of Novato. If you look closely in the tree on the left, you can see longtime Novato Councilmember Pat Eklund playing hooky from school. (Just kidding, Pat. You’ve been around a while, but not that long.)
IS THIS JUSTICE?
Take a look at the plea deal the Marin County District Attorney’s office cut with a guy who drove drunk and killed a pedestrian out walking her dogs in San Anselmo. (See the Cop Log in today’s newspaper). The initial charge was murder because the guy had two previous DUI convictions. The D.A. offered to reduce the charge for this habitual drunk driver in return for pleading guilty to a lesser charge and a 10-year sentence (he’ll be out earlier).
Is that justice?
It’s a close call, if you ask me. Life in jail seems over the top to me, but I’m bothered that we’re only going to cull this guy from the herd for less than 10 years.
What are your thoughts? Email me at shermfrederick@gmail.com.
ONE MORE THING
– If you recognized everyone in this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, it’s time for you to schedule your first colonoscopy.
– Sheep drive Lamborghinis.
– A mosquito can fly, but a fly can’t mosquito.
– I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon. I’ll let you know which comes first.
Thanks for reading, everybody. Until next week, dear readers, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(Sherman Frederick is an award-winning journalist and publisher of Marin’s community newspapers — the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. He is co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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