How Do We Hire Workers And Accept To Universities: Merit Means More Than Grades and Tests.

 

"The Supreme Court's decision overturning half a century of affirmative action in higher education will force colleges and universities to reconsider their admissions processes and the purposes these processes serve. These institutions can promote both individual excellence and a more inclusive society while fully complying with the court's ruling.

When I was in the Boy Scouts, we received merit badges. The concept was straightforward: You received a badge if you demonstrated the required knowledge or skill in a particular area. This definition of merit worked well enough for the scouts, but it won't do for admission to selective schools. 

Getting into college is more than a recognition of past performance. Admissions officers also must judge whether an applicant can perform at the requisite level in the future. They make a prediction, which involves a measure of uncertainty.

These officers look for evidence to reduce the degree of uncertainty. High-school grades are only one such indicator. Students with mediocre grades but high scores on national standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT could have the potential to do better than they have in the past. But if they aren't motivated to do better, they probably won't. Assessing motivation isn't a science, yet schools have to because some of the most creative and successful adults are late bloomers, and colleges can't afford to overlook them.

There's an additional complication: Students come from a range of circumstances. Differences in family background, neighborhood, economic status and quality of schools affect future educational attainment. Some high schools in poor areas don't offer advanced courses in science and mathematics, so even their best students don't have an opportunity to develop and demonstrate aptitude in these subjects.

To address such disparities, institutions such as the University of Texas at Austin accept a fixed percentage of the highest-achieving students from every high school in their state, even if the best students in the underperforming schools have lower levels of educational attainment and lower scores on standardized tests. The bet is that regardless of their background, top students have shown that they want to take advantage of the opportunities. Past performance matters, but what these students can do in the future matters more.

The purpose of higher education extends beyond academic achievement. Many institutions say they want to develop the leaders of tomorrow. If so, an applicant's demonstration of leadership potential is relevant. A high-school student who creates a community-service program that attracts others' participation would likely be a solid applicant. While many students focus on the drama of their own lives in application essays, others may use the space to highlight their commitment to future leadership in civil society, the private sector, or public life.

Other social considerations matter as well. It would be easy for medical schools to choose their entering classes based on the college performance of their applicants. But top grades alone may produce a disproportionate number of medical researchers and highly paid specialists, exacerbating shortages in other areas -- such as gerontology and internal medicine -- that could diminish the quality of the medical care we routinely experience.

Here too, character and motivation make a difference. While empathy and patience may matter less for surgeons, they are crucial for doctors who spend their days caring for children, the elderly and the mentally ill. Medical schools can't ignore these qualities as they make admissions decisions. Similarly, many poor minority communities experience chronic shortages of medical care. The determination of some applicants to work in these communities should be relevant in admissions decisions.

For much of the 20th century, the Protestant establishment used qualitative factors such as character and leadership potential to exclude Jews, Catholics and others from certain educational institutions and professions. Quantitative standards such as national tests helped break down barriers and open doors to talented students no matter their background.

In recent decades, however, it has become clear that the definition of merit reflected in quantitative standards was too narrow and created new forms of exclusion. This has led some thinkers to reject the idea of merit and view it as an affront to individual equality and social solidarity.

This overreaction is wrong in theory and damaging in practice. Whenever the ability to do a task well matters, so does merit. Our current challenge is not to discard merit, but rather to understand it better -- and use this new understanding to extend opportunities to all who can take advantage of it." [1]

1. Politics & Ideas: Merit Means More Than Grades and Tests. Galston, William A. 
Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 26 July 2023: A.17.  

 

Kaip mes priimame į darbą ir į universitetus: nuopelnai reiškia daugiau, nei pažymius ir testus

     "JAV Aukščiausiojo Teismo sprendimas, panaikinantis pusę amžiaus teigiamų juodiesiems ir kilusiems iš Pietų Amerikos amerikiečiams veiksmų aukštosiose mokyklose, privers kolegijas ir universitetus persvarstyti jų priėmimo procesus ir šių procesų tikslus. Šios institucijos gali skatinti tiek individualų meistriškumą, tiek labiau įtraukią visuomenę, visiškai laikydamosi teismo nustatytų reikalavimų. nutarimą.

 

     Kai buvau skautuose, gavome nuopelnų ženklus. Koncepcija buvo paprasta: gavote ženklelį, jei įrodėte reikiamas žinias ar įgūdžius tam tikroje srityje. Šis nuopelnų apibrėžimas skautams pasiteisino pakankamai gerai, tačiau jis netiks, stojant į atrankinius universitetus.

 

     Įstojimas į koledžą yra daugiau, nei ankstesnių rezultatų pripažinimas. Priėmimo pareigūnai taip pat turi nuspręsti, ar kandidatas gali atlikti reikiamam lygyje ateityje. Jie daro prognozes, kurios apima neapibrėžtumo matą.

 

     Šie pareigūnai ieško įrodymų, kad sumažintų netikrumo laipsnį. Vidurinės mokyklos pažymiai yra tik vienas iš tokių rodiklių. Mokiniai, turintys vidutinius pažymius, bet aukštus nacionalinių standartizuotų testų, tokių, kaip SAT ar ACT, balus, gali turėti galimybę pasirodyti geriau, nei anksčiau. Bet jei jie nebus motyvuoti daryti geriau, greičiausiai, to nebus. Motyvacijos vertinimas nėra mokslas, tačiau mokyklos turi tai daryti, nes kai kurie kūrybiškiausi ir sėkmingiausi suaugusieji yra vėlyvieji, kurie tampa geriausiais, o kolegijos negali sau leisti jų nepastebėti.

 

     Yra dar viena komplikacija: studentai ateina iš įvairių aplinkybių. Šeimos, kaimynystės, ekonominės padėties ir mokyklų kokybės skirtumai turi įtakos būsimam išsilavinimui. Kai kurios skurdžių vietovių aukštosios mokyklos nesiūlo pažangių gamtos mokslų ir matematikos kursų, todėl net geriausi jų studentai neturi galimybės tobulėti ir parodyti gabumų šiuose dalykuose.

 

     Siekdamos pašalinti tokius skirtumus, tokios institucijos, kaip Teksaso universitetas Ostine, priima fiksuotą procentą geriausiai pasiekusių studentų iš kiekvienos savo valstijos aukštosios mokyklos, net jei geriausių mokinių prasčiau pasiekusiose mokyklose yra žemesnis išsilavinimo lygis ir mažesni balai. standartizuotuose testuose. Lažybos tos, kad nepaisant jų kilmės, geriausi studentai parodė, kad nori pasinaudoti galimybėmis. Praeities rezultatai yra svarbūs, bet tai, ką šie studentai gali padaryti ateityje, yra svarbesnis dalykas.

 

     Aukštojo mokslo tikslas yra ne tik akademiniai pasiekimai. Daugelis institucijų teigia, kad nori ugdyti rytojaus lyderius. Jei taip, kandidato lyderio potencialo demonstravimas yra svarbus. Vidurinės mokyklos moksleivis, kuris sukuria bendruomenės paslaugų programą, kuri pritraukia kitus dalyvauti, greičiausiai, būtų tinkamas kandidatas. Nors daugelis studentų paraiškų rašiniuose sutelkia dėmesį į jų gyvenimo dramą, kiti gali pasinaudoti šia erdve norėdami pabrėžti jų įsipareigojimą ateityje vadovauti pilietinei visuomenei, privačiame sektoriuje ar viešajame gyvenime.

 

     Svarbūs ir kiti socialiniai sumetimai. Medicinos universitetams būtų nesunku pasirinkti stojamąsias klases pagal stojančiųjų koledžų rezultatus. Tačiau vien dėl aukščiausių pažymių gali atsirasti neproporcingai daug medicinos tyrėjų ir gerai apmokamų specialistų, todėl kitose srityse, pvz., gerontologijoje ir vidaus medicinoje, gali atsirasti trūkumas, dėl kurio gali pablogėti mūsų reguliariai teikiamos medicininės priežiūros kokybė.

 

     Čia taip pat išsiskiria charakteris ir motyvacija. Nors chirurgams empatija ir kantrybė gali būti mažiau svarbūs, gydytojams, kurie savo dienas leidžia, kad rūpintis vaikais, pagyvenusiais žmonėmis ir psichikos ligoniais, jos yra labai svarbios. Priimdami sprendimus dėl priėmimo medicinos universitetai negali ignoruoti šių savybių. Panašiai daugelis neturtingų mažumų bendruomenių patiria nuolatinį medicininės priežiūros trūkumą. Kai kurių pretendentų pasiryžimas dirbti šiose bendruomenėse turėtų būti svarbus, priimant sprendimus dėl priėmimo.

 

     Didžiąją XX amžiaus dalį protestantų valdžia naudojo kokybinius veiksnius, tokius, kaip charakteris ir lyderystės potencialas, kad išstumtų žydus, katalikus ir kitus iš tam tikrų švietimo įstaigų ir profesijų. Kiekybiniai standartai, tokie, kaip nacionaliniai testai, padėjo įveikti kliūtis ir atverti duris talentingiems studentams, neatsižvelgiant į jų kilmę.

 

     Tačiau pastaraisiais dešimtmečiais tapo aišku, kad kiekybiniuose standartuose atspindėtas nuopelnų apibrėžimas buvo per siauras ir sukūrė naujas atskirties formas. Tai paskatino kai kuriuos mąstytojus atmesti nuopelnų idėją ir vertinti ją, kaip įžeidimą individų lygybei ir socialiniam solidarumui.

 

     Šis pernelyg didelis reagavimas teoriškai neteisingas, o praktiškai žalingas. Kaip svarbu gebėjimas gerai atlikti užduotį, taip ir nuopelnai. Dabartinis mūsų iššūkis yra ne atmesti nuopelnus, o geriau juos suprasti – ir panaudoti šį naują supratimą, kad tai išplėstų galimybes visiems, kurie gali tuo pasinaudoti.“ [1]

 

1. Politics & Ideas: Merit Means More Than Grades and Tests. Galston, William A. 
Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 26 July 2023: A.17.  

Splashing Down in East River --- Our columnist tests taking a seaplane from Boston to New York City with check-in at an oyster bar.

"Boston -- I've checked in for flights at tiny airports and mammoth hubs, but never at an oyster bar.

Until last week. Tailwind Air Flight 1257 to New York departs from ReelHouse Oyster Bar in the seaport district. The restaurant, with its $150 shellfish tower, is a fitting starting point for a seaplane voyage to New York that costs from $395 to $895 one way and lands in the East River, minutes from Midtown Manhattan.

Commercial flights are fast. But factor in tarmac delays, long security lines, plus traffic to and from the airport, and reaching your destination takes much longer. Seaplanes might offer a niche alternative for those who can afford more than a regular airline ticket but less than private flights, while delivering fliers closer to city centers.

Tiny Tailwind has been touting speedy, hassle-free service on the clogged travel route for nearly two years. Scheduled seaplane service is an anomaly in the Northeast but part of daily life in places like Seattle, Vancouver and the universe of singer Jimmy Buffett. Co-founder and chief executive Alan Ram views seaplanes as forerunners to air taxis, but available now.

"It's tried and true and it's been around 100 years," he says. "It's a way to get in and out of the city center without having to wait for some future technology."

The scheduled flight time between the heart of Boston and New York on Tailwind's eight-seat Cessna Caravan amphibious seaplanes: under 90 minutes. Anyone who's taken a plane, train or automobile knows that this trip takes about four hours door to door on a good day.

I booked my flight from Boston Harbor (BNH) to Manhattan (NYS) for $495, buying the ticket online a week out. That compares with airline fares starting at $180 one-way and Amtrak Acela fares of $176 for business class or $337 for first class. The Wall Street Journal paid for the trip and the company wasn't notified of my plans.

The closest I came to either city's major airports was when we taxied by Boston Logan and flew 8,000 feet over New York LaGuardia. There was no security line -- Tailwind says it makes sure passengers aren't on a no-fly list -- no crowded gates and no snaking lines for a taxi. But also no Wi-Fi or drink service beyond a small, self-serve red Igloo Playmate cooler at the back of the plane stocked with free sodas and Nantucket canned cocktails.

The trip was quick, sometimes scenic but not stress-free. I fretted about the strict 20-pound luggage weight limit. The oyster bar was difficult to find because it's new and not in navigation apps. And parts of the flight were bumpy enough that another passenger's puppy puked.

Tailwind requires passengers to show up 10 minutes before departure. For flights out of Boston, it suggests arriving early to enjoy the oyster bar. I showed up an hour before my 2:45 p.m. departure and, like any self-respecting jet-setter, ordered the $48 oysters -- four Wellfleet oysters topped with tuna crudo, creme fraiche and caviar. A giant yacht called Kisses was docked next door.

My phone pinged just before 2 p.m. A text from Tailwind said the flight was leaving on time but would arrive 38 minutes late in Manhattan because of an unexpected stop in East Hampton, N.Y. It blamed "operational changes with our seaplane fleet." The company has three seaplanes to cover its weekly schedule of about 108 flights, nearly one quarter of them between New York and Boston. Other destinations include Nantucket, Mass., and Newport, R.I.

A Tailwind rep arrived at the restaurant about 20 minutes before departure, toting a clear plastic container with a hand scale and other items inside. She found me at the bar, checked my ID to match it with my reservation and weighed my carry-on. I was 2 pounds over but didn't have to take anything out because my flight wasn't full. She eyed my backpack and slapped a white, magnetic Tailwind wristband on my wrist: my boarding pass.

Just before 3 p.m., three of us and a dog boarded a launch boat for a short ride across the harbor to the seaplane dock. By 3:05, we were all inside the seaplane.

Tailwind is a commuter airline, not a guided sightseeing tour, but the pilot suggested the fourth seat back on the left side for good views of the Zakim Bridge, one of the widest cable-stayed bridges in the world, the Charles River and Fenway Park. It was a good call.

We taxied on the water for several minutes and were airborne before 3:15 p.m. The ascent was pretty bumpy, and Aria, a Border Collie mix, immediately got sick.

Aria, who sports a Christian Louboutin collar, probably won't be returning to the seaplane anytime soon, but her owner, 30-year-old New York attorney Nathan Noh, says he's sold on it.

"I've always been looking for fast and easy ways to get between the two cities," he says.

Our flight didn't make the stop in East Hampton after all. The seaplane splashed down in the East River at 4:25 p.m. We were at Skyport, New York's seaplane terminal off East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive, by 4:30 p.m. Even with a stop at Tailwind's lounge, a space it shares with Blade Air Mobility, I checked into my Midtown hotel at 5:11 p.m., little more than two hours after the boat launch.

My return trip to Boston on Amtrak took 3 hours and 45 minutes, not counting travel time to and from the train stations. Tailwind took the crown for speed, hands down. Advantage goes to Amtrak for comfort, productivity, perks and price.

A friend's expiring first-class upgrade landed me in seat 14A, with a tray table, predeparture drinks and mixed nuts, chilled ginger shrimp for lunch and creme brulee for dessert.

For a conversation starter, though, it will be hard to beat the time I coasted into Manhattan by seaplane." [1]

1. Carry On: Splashing Down in East River --- Our columnist tests taking a seaplane from Boston to New York City with check-in at an oyster bar. Gilbertson, Dawn. 
Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 26 July 2023: A.13.