Thursday, September 18, 1986
Daily Nebraskan
Passing scores set for tests
Pre-Professional Skills Test now required for TC students
Page 3
3
By Joeth Zucco
Staff Reporter
The Nebraska Board of Education
recently set passing scores for the Pre
Professional Skills Test, which educa
tion majors now are required to pass
before being admitted to teacher-training
sessions.
Teachers College students have been
taking the tests as "entrance exams"
to teaching programs for the last two
years. After July, 1989, teaching certifi
cates cannot be issued without passing
the PPST.
A report in the American Associa
tion of College Teacher's Education
said that in 1983 the Commission on
Excellence in Education published "A
Nation At Risk," a report criticizing
teachers and teacher education for low
educational standards. The report was
followed up by Gov. Bob Kerrey's task
force on Excellence in Education. Both
called for a minimum basic skills test
for all teachers.
When the college started giving the
tests, two years ago it set its own pass
ing scores, which were slightly higher
than the new state scores. According to
Dr. Mary Kluender, coordinator of stu
dent information, UNL students have
been scoring three to eight points
above the new state scores.
"We think it's really important for
teaching college students to demon
strate that they do have t he basic skills
to be teachers," Kluender said. "We're
pleased with how well students are
doing and performing on the PPST."
The test, devised and scored by the
Educational Testing Service, examines
the student's basic skills in mathemat
ics, reading and writing. The first two
sections are standardized and the last
is compositional. Since there are no
permanent records of students' fail
ures, they can ret ake the test as many
times as necessary. Workshops and
individual tutoring are available for a
minimal fee through the Student Cen
ter for Academic Success Center.
According to Mike Kissler of the
State Education Department, 19 per
cent fail reading, 18 percent fail math,
and 21 percent fail writing. Cumula
tively, 20 percent fail one part or more
the first time they take it.
"It provides good information to the
students," James O'Hanlon, dean of
Teachers College said. "If they can't
pass, they're going to have lots of prob
lems. It's an early warning for them to
consider other fields, It measures a few
of the things it takes them to make it
through college."
The scoring requirements on the
test differ from state to state. For
Nebraska, the passing scores are 170
for reading, 171 for math, and 172 for
writing. O'Hanlon said requiring the
exam only will slightly improve educa
tional standards in the United States
"because it doesn't really measure
things to determine if a student is suc
cessful." Most teaching students stay in Ne
braska. Others are recruited by out-of-state
schools to fill teacher shortages,
mainly on the East and West coasts.
O'Hanlon said he thinks the teaching
programs in this section of the country
are better, thus attracting better stu
dents and putting them through a more
rigorous program.
ISLflm IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Thursday, September 18, 1936 at the Wick Alumni Center
12:45 EuUliLectuti "Islam in the Contemporary World" by Christopher
Van Hollert, who wa ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives
and deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern and South
Asian affairs, and is director of the American Institute for Islamic
Affairs in Washington, O.C.
Eilm "The Peoples of Islam"
3:00
The lecture and film are open to the public.
Sponsored by the Institute for International Studies.
Police Report
Monday
10:34 a.m. Medical emergency
reported at Memorial Stadium; injured
person was taken to hospital.
3:09 p.m. Non-injury accident
reported at Area 24 parking lot at 14th
St. and Avery Ave.
3:13 p.m. Theft of car stereo
equipment reported at Area 3 parking
lot by Harper-Schramm-Smith complex.
8:32 p.m. Theft of clothing from
Burr Hall laundry room reported.
Tuesday
8:51 a.m. Plant industry fire
alarm set off. No fire reported.
8:59 a.m. Dental equipment re
ported stolen from Dental College.
9:11 a.m. Bicycle reported stolen
from Oldfather Hall.
11:47 a.m. Auto accessories re
ported stolen from parked car at Kraft -s
convenient store, 17th and Vine streets.
A
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O n
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service .
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1644 T
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1 1
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M)M 474-6592
PIT
The Student Suw'ml Store
Michebb Bottias
Rs.-U-Dfirk 12 pk 5.59
ltaCa ..... M0.99
Cars & Cesra Up2 fl . . . 5.19
16 cz. c:ss C::a . . . 9.99
OSi-fted C::s . ... . . . 6.99
Cbk Lb! pcj. td tip)C::s 5.49
A F
,.. il,..,,, ,i ., ,. ,i.l.,.,
f":r sd Ihrj St. 24,
mm eA, jirtA'tf) 14
Now we're full service. You can
cash checks (including NBC checks
something you couldn't do before we
became full-service). You can also
make deposits or take advantage of all
these other services.
Loan Services. We can provide a full
range of
. - -rrr"
i, , 3 s r.
VISA MasterCard
y
personal
loan
services
to meet all your needs. Apply for a
Student Loan or ask about our
BankCard Program for students. "
Checking Services. We offer a variety
of checking services, including a
specially designed Student Account.
Investment Services. We have
savings programs for large or small
savers, from the regular Savings
Account, to short and long-term CD's,
and Money Market Accounts.
24-Hour Banking Services. We
offer
hometown
banking
services :
with an
Automated Teller network that's :::
city wide. Use your Networks ATM .J:
card from home or get an NBC Bank-;
In-The-Box card. There are two Bank-In-The-Box
machines in the Nebraska
Union for your convenience. -
Stop in today. Take advantage of
full-service banking on Campus.
Located in the Nebraska Union, 14th and R
Open Monday through Friday. 8:30 4:00; Telephone: 472-4530
Lincoln. NE 68508 (402) 47242SO MEMBER FDIC
a HErst Commerce bank.
fOUl HOUSING '
LENDER
Quartz
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ONLY
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217 N. 11th j
477-6061 5s5y
ix III
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i!S C(f ll If"
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X
At the Original Korn Popper and Colby Ridge,
you can enjoy incredibly delicious popcorn for a very
ordinary price. Like our giant 30 oz. party bag for just
$2.95 or our 10 oz. day pack for $1.40.
So why not stop by for a little snack soon?
You'd be nuts not to.
0 3vl -t3L
f:ympcom ice cream
irtJefe.;. Eastview Center Meridian Park
ilSdir't- 233 N. 48th St 6900 "O" St
47S-6S22.'.V"-:: '! -467-5811. '. 463-2888
Bring this ad in on Thursday, and get 2 day packs
for the price of II OHer expires Dec. 11, 1986.
i. Operators of the Original Kom Popper l'o g"8
1417 UN" St 474-5818
DeIkious frozen yogurt available.