Scholastic Aptitude Test is making a comeback

Why are we not surprised? The SAT had come into disfavor over time, accelerated by the isolating effects of the COVID pandemic. A major reason for eliminating a mandatory standardized test had been concerns that some demographic/ethnic groups did not score well and were being denied entrance to high-quality colleges.

Now, though, it’s been determined in some important well-researched quarters that using SAT scores as one metric in the admissions process is actually beneficial in finding bright students from those same disadvantaged sectors of the pupil populace.

One important reason: Not all high schools and prep grading systems are alike or even close to being comparable when it comes to academic rigor. So a grade of A on one campus might be the equivalent of a C on another. How to address that problem? One test for all.

Standardized testing has been under pressure for some time, and not just the SAT or similar pre-college exams. Testing at the elementary and secondary levels has come under fire as well.

It wasn’t always like that. Back in the day, lots of testing was the norm. It was expected. For those of us who had the good fortune to attend a parochial school, we were tested on a regular basis in one way or another.

At Serra High School, our erudite English instructor, the Rev. John Zoph, a fixture at the school for a half-century, mandated a brief, daily vocabulary quiz manufactured out of a handy booklet, “4-Star Collegiate Word Power,” by professor Mark Hart. The slim volume contained 3,200 words, definitions and mini-exams.

Testing became so utterly routine it was simply expected as a matter of course. No big deal.

In the process, other standardized tests became part and parcel of a regular academic experience. Taking the SAT or any other college-oriented test became a natural extension of that classroom regimen.

A GOLDEN-AGE GALA IN PACIFICA: It’s never too late for a senior prom. In Pacifica, that town is hosting such an event, with a twist: It’s for older residents. Much older. It commences at 4:30 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. It’s an Early Bird Special concept with a new, fresh face. Attendees at this Friday’s affair, happily titled “Spring of Love,” at the coastal burg’s community center are pegged for those 60 years old and above. The cost is $10 for Seniors In Action members, $15 for nonmembers. There will be lively music, beverages, food and a photo booth. Tickets for this golden-age gala are available at the community center, 540 Crespi Drive. You can bring your steady.

VOTERS CONTINUE GENEROSITY: As if more proof were needed, recent San Mateo County election results reinforced a trend one more time. To wit: If there’s one thing the citizenry seems poised to do it’s voting for more money for public education. All four measures designed to pump dollars into Peninsula public school districts were passing with flying colors as of the latest count Monday afternoon. The beneficiaries of this latest round of voter generosity were: The Jefferson Elementary School District, the Pacifica School District, the San Carlos School District and the Woodside Elementary School District. This is not new. But it is worth noting again.

MORE FOES THAN FRIENDS: As individuals demanding a cease-fire in the Hamas-Israeli war attempted to clog access points at San Francisco International Airport last week, one aspect became clear: Their disruptive efforts were almost surely counter-productive. Why? Because the unsuspecting, frustrated public trying to use SFO could not have been pleased with the behavior and tactics of the protesters. If anything, travelers, airline employees, airport workers and others had to be turned off by the pro-Palestinian mob. The demonstrators no doubt generated more foes than friends.

Contact John Horgan by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com or via messaging on Facebook and Instagram.