Sandy's Wager

[Robert Hotz]

     Jeff got his *bluechipper* post in before I could compose and send my
     last post.  Jeff is right.  But recognizing that Student A is likely
     to score well whether in a public school or a home school is only part
     of the issue.  I tried to address that in my last post regarding
     socialization and class size.  Jeff, I would be interested in hearing
     your response to the same.

     Rob Hotz
     Lincoln, Nebraska


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Sandy's Wager
Author:  Jeff Spinner-Halev <jspinner at UNLINFO.UNL.EDU> at Internet_Mail
Date:    8/14/97 2:54 PM


But Student A and Student B come from biassed samples.  Homeschooled
children almost surely have parents who are more keenly interested in their
education, *on average,* than public school children.  Since parental
involvement in their children's education is a key factor in how children do in
school, home schooled children will do better in Rick's test.  But these
same students, if sent to public schools, would probably also do better than
other public school students on the same test.

Jeff Spinner-Halev
Assistant Professor of Political Science
U of Nebraska

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From:   richard duncan[SMTP:rduncan at UNLINFO.unl.edu]
Sent:   Thursday, August 14, 1997 2:19 PM
To:     Multiple recipients of list RELIGIONLAW
Subject:        Sandy's Wager

How does a "typical" home school student compare to a "typical" public
school student? I have my opinion and Sandy has his. But let me ask
Sandy about a wager. If you had to bet, say, the balance in your
TIAA-CREF account on whether Student A or Student B scored higher on
standardized achievement tests, and the only thing you knew about the
students was that Student A was randomly selected from a list of home
school students and Student B was randomly selected from a list of
public school students of the same age, how would you bet? I know how
I'd bet.

--
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             Rick Duncan (rduncan at unlinfo.unl.edu)

"Be of good courage,
 And He shall strengthen your heart,
 All you who hope in the Lord."
       --Psalm 31:24