Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 12 · column 4 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
Eow skill levels - in 17 yeai ( is, these alarmin] facts - nearly 40 percent can not understand and answe logical questions from writ ten material; one fifth cai write a satisfactory essay one-third can solve a mat! problem having severa steps.
In its findings, the com mission attempted to ex plain the reasons for oui national trend:
• The proportion of stu dents changing from vocational and college preparatory programs tc “general” track increased from 12 percent in 1964 to 42 percent in 1979.
• Students don’t choose the harder courses when it’s left up to them. Who takes: intermediate algebra — 31%; French I — 13%; geography — 16%; calculus — 6%. Twenty-five percent of the credits earned by general track high school students are in physical and health education, work experience, remedial English and mathematics and undemanding development courses like training for adulthood and mandate.
• Homework had decreased and grades risen as achievement has declined - decreased expectations are responsible.
• Other countries have children spending more time in school, more time studying at home, and more time in substantive courses, unlike here where cooking and driving may count as much toward a diploma as En
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