The Texas
10% rule
BY ROBERT CANRIGHT A RULE CREATED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. IT GUARANTEES THE TOP 10 PERCENT OF EACH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS ADMISSION TO TEXAS UNIVERSITIES
When Texas thought that its current practice of racial discrimination was going to be declared unconstitutional, the top 10 percent rule was created to force the top universities in Texas to accept under-performing students. The hope was that the racial and ethnic mixtures would be similar to those achieved through overt racial discrimination. The top 10 percent rule was a success from that regard. Yet it is a hazard to education in Texas, as will be discussed soon. First, however, we should be aware that the universities in Texas added overt racial discrimination on top of the top 10 percent rule. That is when Abigail Fisher sued (Fisher v Univer-
sity of Texas, No. 11-345). Her case is finally reaching the U.S. Supreme Court tomorrow, October 10, 2012. What has happened is that state legislators from districts with large numbers of under-performing students are helping the children of their constituents to cut to the head of the line by playing the race card. The legislature is corrupting the ideal of an academic meritocracy by giving their kids special privileges. The side effect is that the reputation of Texas universities is declining. A friend of mine who interviewed for an engineering job up north was told that they almost rejected his resume because he was from Texas. They told him they don’t hire graduates of Texas universities, but they noticed he went to college in Ohio. Seventyfive percent of the freshman class at UT Austin enters through the 10 percent rule, and many of them would not have gotten in otherwise because they are sub-par. The legislature has been >> Continues on P 02
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From Page 01 >>> leaning on the universities to pass the under-performers, so we have social promotion from elementary school all the way through the universities.
We must free our best universities -U.T. Austin, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech -- from the academic damage inflicted by the Texas top 10 percent rule. Today a diploma from the University of Texas at Austin does not mean much. An employer has to look at the transcripts, examine the grades, and determine if the UT graduate is a product of social promotion. Objective assessments like SAT and GRE scores must be examined. Perhaps individual colleges within UT, like the College of Engineering, the Business School, and the School of Architecture can say that admission to the university does not guarantee admission to their school, but now they have to overcome the cloud of suspicion that hangs over the entire university. The University of Chicago was founded about the same time as the University of Texas. The University of Chicago is a world class university. The University of Texas had a good reputation and was building it up, but then the state legislature shot it in the foot. The world is becoming
increasingly competitive and universities are part of the competition. The Wall Street Journal ran an article, “Can U.S. Universities Stay on Top?” by Michael J. Silverstein and Abheek Singhi, September 29, 2012, page C3. The last thing we should be doing in a competitive world is diminishing the quality of our universities. The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said that if they adopted a top 10 percent rule like UT, the average SAT score of entrants would drop by 55 points (“Justices Face a Test on Race” by Jess Bravin, Wall Street Journal, 10-9-2012, page A3). Education is vital for a competitive world. After Germany was defeated by Napoleon in the Battle of Jena in 1806, Germany revamped its education system, developing some of the best universities in the world. American research universities are modeled after the German universities. Germany was tough to beat in World War I, tough to defeat in World War II, and is an economic powerhouse today. Superior education is a key factor in Germany’s competitive strength. Superior education can be a key factor in making Texas more competitive on the world stage. We must free our best universities -- U.T. Austin, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech -- from the academic damage inflicted by the Texas top 10 percent rule.
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS TURKEY-SYRIAN TENSIONS FLARE According to Reuters, Turkey is bolstering its presence along the 560 mi border. One general says, “If shelling from Syria continues we will respond with greater force.” ..........................................................................................................................
MALI: STARVING FOR LIFE Regions such as Sahel host millions of human lives that are near death because of extreme drought. This and an increasing amount of violence occurring from religious conflict is leaving the people of Mali in despair. - Reuters ..........................................................................................................................
NO HOMEWORK FOR FRENCH PUPILS France 24 shared an announcement by President Francois HOllande to abolish homework as a step towards educational reform in France. Hollande’s vow came as answer to problems of absenteeism and lack of support from home to especially underpriviledged children. The announcement also promised an addition of over 60,000 new teaching position in the next five years and incentives to those who are willing to work in “difficult areas”. ..........................................................................................................................
PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT MAKES PEACE Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said Sunday that his government has reached a preliminary peace agreement with the nation’s largest Muslim rebel group in a major breakthrough toward ending a decades-long insurgency in the country’s south. The agreement is expected to be signed in a few days in the capital, Manila, officials said. It spells out the general principles on major issues, including the extent of power, revenues and territory of the Muslim region. If all goes well, a final peace deal could be reached by 2016, when Aquino’s six-year term ends, according to the officials.” France24.com
TRAVEL THROUGH WINTER Yosemite Winter?
According to the Travel channel, a trip through Yosemite this winter will be unforgettably spectacular. With mild temperatures and small crowds, you’ll enjoy the 1189 square mile park’s “secret season”. .........................................................................................................................
WINTER ADVENTURE
National Geographic editors choose Lake Placid, New York among, “ten trips that will have you gearing up for adventure or joining in local festivities—warm- and cold-weather travel that’s sure to cure the winter blues. The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics are two years away, but the games are on—and accessible to all ages and fitness levels—at the Olympic venues in New York’s world-renowned Adirondack resort village.”
HEALTH ALERT
Fungal Menangitis Becoming A Major Threat in the U.S. With the death toll rising to double digits, the Center for Disease Control has pinpointed 9 U.S. states where fungal Menangitis is threatening to take more lives. Found in a steroid medication given to patients with back pain, the infection causes inflamation to the protective layer around the spinal cord and brain. Early on-set of symptoms mirror the flu, but is not contagious. The New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts is said to have been the source of the contaminated injection viles. Doctors are being urged to contact patients who have taken steroidal injection for back related issues as a precautionary method according to the CDC. -rawstory.org
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MODEST FASHION ON FIRE
Islamic fashion is raking In Ca$h and attention worldwide. Accordng to The Guardian, “muslim fashion market is worth $96 million” and with designers like Barjis Chohan catering to “the urban sophisticated Muslim woman” (barjis.co.uk) abayas are the new wardrobe must have. ...................................................................................................................................................
BEST PLACES FOR WOMEN Forbes lists the best cities for working women this year and to your surprise, colombus, Ohio is the year’s best city. The city, “is home to more than 1.8 million and boasts higher than average salaries for women, who account for over 44% of the workforce.” St. Louis Missouri, Nashville Tennessee, and Kansas City, Missouri are also among the top twenty-five on Forbes list. ...................................................................................................................................................
YOUTUBE GLOBAL EXPANSION Soon you’ll be finding an exceptional number of international programs on none other than YouTube, the Google-owned internet video provider. With over 50 international channels launching in addition to its existing 100 from last year, YouTube is gearing up to attract advertisers by increasing its viewership. Programs will cover a wide variety of topics including sports, music, and health. With an average of 400 billion hours per month already being raked in, the online video Moghul is meeting a growing demand for online enterainment. -France24.com