Talk!

Prof. George Farkas of Penn State argues that the black – white test score gap cannot be accounted for by “explanations such as biased testing, discrimination by teachers, test anxiety among Black students, disparities in income or family structure, and cultural and genetic differences.”

What, then, does he believe is the explanation? A talk deficit.

The Penn State researcher summarizes research showing that parents

Say What? (9)

  1. Anonymous May 26, 2004 at 12:56 pm | | Reply

    Question from the curious: Since Jessie is obviously pretty bright (entering a doctorate program at a time most kids her age are graduating high school!), how were her verbal abilities at the pre-school age? And when did you know she was “gifted”?

  2. Laura May 26, 2004 at 1:37 pm | | Reply

    I’ve read about those studies where they measure parent/toddler interaction. They pin microphones on the toddlers’ little t-shirts. I can just imagine. I remember some of my child’s communications: “You know what … you know what … you know what … you know what … you know what … you know what Patrick said? Patrick … Patrick said … Patrick …” Better them than me.

    The author says black kids’ scores being lower can’t be ascribed to racism because there is still a gap when the teacher is black. I agree that the gap probably isn’t due to racism, but this is a poor argument. Black people can be biased against other black people; I’ve seen it.

  3. meep May 26, 2004 at 2:04 pm | | Reply

    So does saying “ooocha booocha booboo girlie baby child” count in this? And how many words would that be?

  4. Mary May 26, 2004 at 2:20 pm | | Reply

    I wonder if the words counted included words read to the children. I firmly believe that reading to children from a very young age is as important (if not more so) than just talking to them.

  5. Gyp May 26, 2004 at 6:44 pm | | Reply

    Indeed, Mary. Had I never been read to as a child I would have grown up like many kids nowadays who hate reading and have reading levels many grades lower than the grade they’re in.

    Parent-child interaction is quite a factor in all of this.

  6. DBL May 27, 2004 at 4:34 pm | | Reply

    I thought I read a study about a year ago suggesting that variations in SAT performance track not family income but family wealth, and that this explained a large part of the variance in white/black performance. Does anyone else recall this study?

  7. cheese May 27, 2004 at 6:01 pm | | Reply

    This shows that having higher IQ parents means not only that you are more likely to have a genetic advantage but also that they will create a better environment for you as well.

  8. Hube's Cube May 28, 2004 at 12:33 pm | | Reply

    MORE ON TEST BIAS

    John Rosenberg notes how Professor George Farkas of Penn State “argues that the black – white test score gap cannot be accounted for by “explanations such as biased testing, discrimination by teachers, test anxiety among Black students, disparities in …

  9. lindenen May 30, 2004 at 3:40 am | | Reply

    This still doesn’t explain the gaps between middle class black students and middle class white students. I suspect that has more to do with the student’s own initiative and fears.

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