Wednesday, April 23, 2014

How Could Race Possibly Matter In This Case?

I received an email at school the other day.  Here's a snip:
On behalf of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), I am pleased to share with you an opportunity for practicing educators and educator preparation faculty to participate in standard setting activities for the following CSET tests that have been updated to align with the Common Core State Standards:

* CSET: English
* CSET: Mathematics
* CSET: Multiple Subjects

We are currently in the process of establishing three independent Subject Matter Advisory Panels to convene in Sacramento in September/October of 2014. During these conferences, pre-K-adult educators and educator preparation faculty will make recommendations that will be used by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) in setting the passing standards for the updated tests, CSET: English, CSET: Mathematics, and CSET: Multiple Subjects...

The involvement of California educators who are representative of the state's diversity is critical to the success of each examination program. This involvement helps to ensure fair and accurate testing that confirms candidates have the knowledge and skills needed to perform the job of an educator in California public schools.
We all know that "diversity" means race--it certainly doesn't mean political persuasion!  Is the implication here that people of different races somehow need different "knowledge and skills...to perform the job of an educator in California public schools"?

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