The predictions are coming true.

[KE5FRF]

OK, read some of the arguments against test questions in this link to the news article I submitted a few weeks ago.

Link to anti-written test arguments.

Are the drum beats already starting to make the written tests easier too?

I have to disagree with the argument as presented concerning the VEC question pool. The poster argues that the current question pool is discriminatory. He cites an example of a question about AMSAT in the Technican test and argues that it is a "nice to know" question and not a "need to know" question, thus illegal because it is discriminatory.

OK....I won't argue that this question falls in the "nice to know" category rather than the "need to know". While I am aware of AMSAT, I can see myself spending 50 years as a ham without ever working the first bird. Certainly, it isn't critical information.

BUT DISCRIMINATORY?
ridiculous.

How can a question be discriminatory if the answers are published, and it is asked THE EXACT SAME WAY to everyone who reads it? Every test taker is presented with a test in the same format, with the same number of questions, and have the same opportunity to take it at the same cost. All testers are given ample time, with none being afforded special privelages. There is ZERO discrimination involved with a simple multiple choice test.

Are we to the point now in society where it is discrimination to test people and expect certain scores? What is this discrimination of which we speak? Stupid people discrimination?

If ANYTHING is discriminatory about the tests, the fact that it is written in plain text in English might be so...but I also know that provisions can be made for every possible scenario...Oral testing for the blind or the dislexic...I'm assuming that spanish language tests are available as well as any other major language...And reasonable accomodations could be made for anyone.

Can someone please offer me a good explanation of how the context of a question can be discriminatory?

Irrelevant, perhaps, but discriminatory?

And in my humble opinion, no question is irrelevant on an amateur radio exam if in real world operation a potential licensee might be in a situation where the knowledge of the material is useful. Knowing details about AMSAT is useful for hams who work satellites. Since this is a privelage that Technicians are afforded, it stands to reason that they should be exposed to the material.

If this "discrimination" theory holds water, then we might as well shut our public education system down past the 3rd grade, because I can't honestly think of anything neccessary that we learn in school after basic reading and mathematics. Who cares what Paul Revere did or what the value of "PI" is? Useless trivia in the real world, right? How dare we withhold a high school diploma from someone who can't undersatnd these useless tidbits!

HOGWASH.
It doesn't matter that measuring the area or circumferance of a circle isn't a daily requirement of most people's lives. It doesn't matter that Paul Revere died well over 200 years ago. If we are to be contributing, successful, competitive, well rounded members of society as adults, it is imperitive that we get the very best education as children. Knowing American history helps us form rational, knowledgeable opinions about current events in the context of our heritage. Knowing basic geometry keeps us from being swindled when buying real estate. All of these "unneccessary" trivial tidbits contribute to being well informed and make it easier to not be taken advantage of by those people who DO have the knowledge.

By making everything so God-blessed easy in this flippin world, we are only HURTING the people we are supposedly trying to help.

When are people going to wake up and realize the damage we are doing?

No, knowing the acronym AMSAT nad what that organization does is NOT critical to life and limb, but it helps make each and every ham more well rounded and more knowledgeable, thus it adds to the depth of our license pool.

I'll add that it isn't CRITICAL that a doctor know anything about the pancreas, the intestines, the liver, or even the brain for that matter, either. I can imagine an Ear Nose and Throat specialist could go his entire career without ever once requiring knowledge of those organs in his practice. But, would we argue that it is OK to pass doctors along through the system without exposing them to a full understanding of the human body and all its functions? Would YOU want to submit yourself to such a doctor for diagnosis, even if its just a sore throat?

I'm sorry, but I truly hope this thought proccess indicated by this comment in the cited thread is not the norm and that it never gains momentum.

[WB2WIK]

I don't need to know anything. That's why I'm announcing my candidacy for President next week.

But seriously, I notice that my latest box of Corn Flakes has an amateur radio license application in it, and says if you just mail that back along with your signature, "X" or hoofprint, you're good to go.

WB2WIK/6

[KE5FRF]

I submit that on the Driver's test, it is unneccessary for a potential driver to know what flashing blue lights means, so if this is on the written driver's test, it should be removed. A motorist can go his entire life without ever being pulled over for a traffic violation, and if he DOES find himself in that scenario, I'm pretty sure the cops will figure out a way to get his attention! I see it on CNN all the time on California highways when the cops are in hot pursuit. Blue lights are unneccessary when you have road spikes!

[AC0H]

Now, now.
The NCI's have been telling us they have no intention of trying to eliminate the theory tests for Ham Radio.

[N2RJ]

That's where the term "LID" came from.

[AB8MA]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Jan. 17 2007,19:07)]OK....I won't argue that this question falls in the "nice to know" category rather than the "need to know". While I am aware of AMSAT, I can see myself spending 50 years as a ham without ever working the first bird. Certainly, it isn't critical information.

BUT DISCRIMINATORY?
ridiculous.

Ya got my thinking juices defrosted. I believe you are on to something here.

(serious hat off)

I was a Chemistry major in college. I wanted to learn Chemistry. I was willing to also learn some other stuff related to my main interest, such as Math and Physics.

But I was told that I also had to learn some other stuff, most of which I could pick and choose. Stuff like Polital Science, History, English (burrr...), and Western Civilization (??).

Rubbish. Just a way to keep me in that college for the full 4 years.

Or 5 years.

Or 6 years.

[AG3Y]

Quote[/b] (KE5FRF @ Jan. 17 2007,15:26)]I submit that on the Driver's test, it is unneccessary for a potential driver to know what flashing blue lights means, so if this is on the written driver's test, it should be removed. A motorist can go his entire life without ever being pulled over for a traffic violation, and if he DOES find himself in that scenario, I'm pretty sure the cops will figure out a way to get his attention! I see it on CNN all the time on California highways when the cops are in hot pursuit. Blue lights are unneccessary when you have road spikes!

Heath, the blue lights and siren are there to protect the Policeman ! ! !

Ain't got nuttin' to do with the guy being chased ! #

Just My Humble Opinion #YMMV

#

73, Jim

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (WB2WIK @ Jan. 17 2007,14:17)]I don't need to know anything. #That's why I'm announcing my candidacy for President next week.

But seriously, I notice that my latest box of Corn Flakes has an amateur radio license application in it, and says if you just mail that back along with your signature, "X" or hoofprint, you're good to go.

WB2WIK/6

After all, it's just a hobby.

Repeat after me, it's just a hobby.

[PE1RDW]

The guy who made the agrument of nice to know vs need to know with amsat has been a ham for 30 years and holds the extra licence.
He is very active doing things for hamradio, hardly the profile of a whiner and I have a feeling he´s not a NCIer.

I have made this remark before but it´s worth repeating, if you don´t like the current questions then do something about it and submit your own, submit enough questions and memorising the questions becomes harder then learning the theoretics

[AG3Y]

Ryan, with all respect, I really HATE to hear someone say, "It's just a hobby" ! I still don't see that word being used anywhere in the definitions of the Amateur Radio Service as found in the F.C.C. Rules and Regulations.

If you can find it, please point it out to us. OK ?

73, Jim