Is Star “spinning” news about PCAP reading test scores?
Posted by Sandy on May 1st, 2008
Statistics often get a bad rap and there is perhaps a very good reason for that when people cherry pick only the news that is favourable to them. Newspapers not doing enough background research on “news” can be a problem as well. Which definitely looks like what happened at the Toronto Star earlier this week with the release of the “Pan-Canadian Assessment Program’s” first report.
For example, take a look at an article in the Toronto Star dated April 29th, 2008. Titled “Ontario Grade 8s top the class,” it gives the definite impression that Ontario students are tops in reading across the country, right? In fact, that notion is reinforced with this quote that:”The bold showing may reflect Ontario’s rigorous new curriculum, suggests Michael Kozlow, director for data for Ontario’s testing body, which took part in the new nation-wide Pan-Canadian Assessment Program.”
Moreover, the Star states: “In a study that tested 30,000 13 year-olds across Canada last spring in reading, math and science, Ontario’s English-speaking students topped everyone in reading, beat the national average in math and came second only to Alberta in their grasp of science.”
Now, take a look at two articles published by the Globe and Mail on the exact same topic, one titled “Quebec teenagers take first place in math, reading on new national test” and the other “Quebec teens tops in math, reading.”
Which is it? Who are tops? Ontario or Quebec students? Did the Star cherry pick the statistics and only talk about “English” language readers? Or, did the Star simply take the Ontario Ministry of Education’s press release and write nearly verbatim what it stated — without checking the PCAP report itself? Because if that is what the Star did, which seems to be the case, they have provided “news” which was actually McGuinty government spin.
Lastly, let’s look at the the findings provided in the press release of the PCAP report itself, that:
- Overall, 88 per cent of all students across Canada performed in reading at level 2 and above, with level 2 being the expected level of performance for the age group. Across all participating jurisdictions the percentages of students performing at level 2 and above range between 81 and 90 per cent.
- The mean score in reading of students in Quebec is significantly higher than that of Canadian students overall. There is no significant difference between the mean score of students in Ontario from that of Canadian students overall.
- Female students in Canada achieved a mean score in reading that was higher than that of male students. Furthermore, the proportion of female students performing at level 3 is higher than that of male students at this level.
Is the Toronto Star spinning news about PCAP reading test scores? Readers can decide.
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H/T and thanks to a Doretta Wilson, Executive Director of the Society for Quality Education.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Of course the Star is spinning for the Liberals. That is what the Star does.
On a personal note, after moving to Toronto from Quebec, I noticed a real deterioration in the quality of education my daughter is now receiving, despite the fact that her elementary school had a perfect 10.0 score in the Fraser Institute rankings the year prior to her attending it.
Here, they seem to think piling on the homework makes up for weak pedagogy.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:11 pm
This is a spin for sure. Perhaps the Star can explain just how it is Ontarians are on the hook for supporting a Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat yet the EQAO scores have either flat-lined or declined?
If 88% scored above a Level 2 that’s not saying much at all. There are only 4 levels. Two is below standard as far as I’m concerned.
If I’m not mistaken I do believe the Education Premier’s plan was to get 75% of Ontario students at a Level 3 or better? Not going to happen.
How be instead of padding the Literacy and Numeracy bureaucracy we give local schools their money directly to spend on phonics programs. That would be money far better spent than on more bureaucrats for fewer students.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:58 pm
The H/T goes to Doretta Wilson, Executive Director of the Society for Quality Education with thanks. She just gave me permission to publish her name and organization which I have now added to the bottom of the post.