Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

[Guest guest]

Thank you to all who have given input into this topic. I have received lots

of good information both privately and on this listserv. I look forward to

further discussion and I plan on reading up some more based on the info

provided by other members. While many have pointed out that the person who

finishes last in school still deserves the same degree as the one who

finished first, it should be reiterated that the topic was LOWERING the

passing grade, not worrying about the PT that passed by one question based

on the earlier tests. I found the test to be vague and difficult to

understand the point of some questions....I did, however, manage to pass

without difficulty. If the test questions are inappropriate to the

education provided (and the education is appropriate) then I support

rewriting the exam. I don't mean to ruffle feathers here or drag our

profession down, I just feel education is our best friend when it comes to

promoting/furthering our profession and I want to stimulate discussion and

get educated myself. I would be interested to know the Pass/Fail rate from

my institution over the past few years as it was 99% first time passing when

I graduated. I plan on emailing them to find out if their numbers have

fallen off. Thanks again everyone.

Mike McClain

TN (Yes, I'm an APTA member....for those of you who insist that nonmembers

have no right to criticize)

>From: acceleratedptbsl@...

>Reply-To: PTManager

>To: PTManager

>Subject: Re: Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

>Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 02:06:38 EDT

>

>Tony,

> I don't know if this is true what you say about McCain but, if

>it

>is, he met the criteria and the academies are not known for lowering their

>standards to pass more people. They work harder at recruiting better

>people.

>Matt Capo, PT

>Accelerated Physical Therapy and Occuptional Health, Inc.

>Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

OK history lesson for the day ..Check out Abraham Lincoln's failures

....and ultimate success.

Defeated for state legislature Elected company captain of Illinois militia

in Black Hawk War

1833 Failed in business Appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois

Appointed deputy surveyor of Sangamon County

1834 Elected to Illinois state legislature

1835 Sweetheart died

1836 Had nervous breakdown Re-elected to Illinois state legislature (running

first in his district)

Received license to practice law in Illinois state courts

1837 Led Whig delegation in moving Illinois state capital from Vandalia

to Springfield

Became law partner of T. Stuart

1838 Defeated for Speaker Nominated for Illinois House Speaker by Whig

caucus

Re-elected to Illinois House (running first in his district)

Served as Whig floor leader

1839 Chosen presidential elector by first Whig convention

Admitted to practice law in U.S. Circuit Court

1840 Argues first case before Illinois Supreme Court

Re-elected to Illinois state legislature

1841 Established new law practice with T. Logan

1842 Admitted to practice law in U.S. District Court

1843 Defeated for nomination for Congress

1844 Established own law practice with H. Herndon as junior

partner

1846 Elected to Congress

1848 Lost renomination (Chose not to run for Congress, abiding by rule of

rotation among Whigs.)

1849 Rejected for land officer Admitted to practice law in U.S. Supreme

Court

Declined appointment as secretary and then as governor of Oregon Territory

1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate Elected to Illinois state legislature (but

declined seat to run for U.S. Senate)

1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice President

1858 Again defeated for U.S. Senate

1860 Elected President

Ron Barbato P.T.

Corporate Director , Rehabilitation

Ephraim McDowell Health

Voice (859 )239-1515

Fax (859 )936-7249

rbarbato@...

" PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information that

is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable

law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it and

be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the

information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY

PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately

advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments

without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you. "

Re: Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

I seem to recall Senator McCain was last in his class at the Naval

Academy. So it's always nice to be reminded that past performance is not

always an accurate predictor of future results/success.

Tony Lynch

[Guest guest]

OK history lesson for the day ..Check out Abraham Lincoln's failures

....and ultimate success.

Defeated for state legislature Elected company captain of Illinois militia

in Black Hawk War

1833 Failed in business Appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois

Appointed deputy surveyor of Sangamon County

1834 Elected to Illinois state legislature

1835 Sweetheart died

1836 Had nervous breakdown Re-elected to Illinois state legislature (running

first in his district)

Received license to practice law in Illinois state courts

1837 Led Whig delegation in moving Illinois state capital from Vandalia

to Springfield

Became law partner of T. Stuart

1838 Defeated for Speaker Nominated for Illinois House Speaker by Whig

caucus

Re-elected to Illinois House (running first in his district)

Served as Whig floor leader

1839 Chosen presidential elector by first Whig convention

Admitted to practice law in U.S. Circuit Court

1840 Argues first case before Illinois Supreme Court

Re-elected to Illinois state legislature

1841 Established new law practice with T. Logan

1842 Admitted to practice law in U.S. District Court

1843 Defeated for nomination for Congress

1844 Established own law practice with H. Herndon as junior

partner

1846 Elected to Congress

1848 Lost renomination (Chose not to run for Congress, abiding by rule of

rotation among Whigs.)

1849 Rejected for land officer Admitted to practice law in U.S. Supreme

Court

Declined appointment as secretary and then as governor of Oregon Territory

1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate Elected to Illinois state legislature (but

declined seat to run for U.S. Senate)

1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice President

1858 Again defeated for U.S. Senate

1860 Elected President

Ron Barbato P.T.

Corporate Director , Rehabilitation

Ephraim McDowell Health

Voice (859 )239-1515

Fax (859 )936-7249

rbarbato@...

" PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This transmission may contain information that

is privileged, confidential and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable

law. If you are not the intended recipient, then please do not read it and

be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the

information contained herein (including any reliance thereon) is STRICTLY

PROHIBITED. If you received this transmission in error, please immediately

advise me, by reply e-mail, and delete this message and any attachments

without retaining a copy in any form. Thank you. "

Re: Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

I seem to recall Senator McCain was last in his class at the Naval

Academy. So it's always nice to be reminded that past performance is not

always an accurate predictor of future results/success.

Tony Lynch

[Guest guest]

Matt:

Re McCain, I was trying to point out test scores, academic ranks, etc do not

always truly measure knowledge and ability or potential. I have the utmost

respect for the military academies and the grads they produce.

Tony

[Guest guest]

Matt:

Re McCain, I was trying to point out test scores, academic ranks, etc do not

always truly measure knowledge and ability or potential. I have the utmost

respect for the military academies and the grads they produce.

Tony

[Guest guest]

There is one more piece to this issue that bears mentioning. The recent

lowering of the raw score to pass the NPTE was actually a RETURN to the

raw score that was used in prior years. In 2004, the passing score had

been RAISED without much public discussion. This did not seem to be in

response to negative outcomes from licensed PTs in prior years, nor did

it seem related to the difficulty of test items. In fact, many learned

about it only when investigating a surprising increase in the number of

graduates not passing on first attempt.

I was privileged to be asked by the FSBPT to be an observer of the

process involved in reviewing and ultimately revising the standard. As

noted on the FSBPT website, a criterion-referenced standard-setting

procedure was utilized, which supported the changed passing score. What

was interesting to me was that the REVISED passing score was essentially

the same as the score prior to 2004.

Passing the exam is necessary, but not sufficient to prove competency.

As a profession, we rely on academic and clinical faculty, as well as

other practicing professionals to help students and in fact all of us

attain and retain competency. This discussion is an example of our

passion to do just that.

**************************************

Janice Kuperstein, PT, MSEd

Associate Professor

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

College of Health Sciences

UK T. Wethington Jr. Building

900 South Limestone St

Lexington, KY 40536-0200

ext 80593

Fax:

Re: Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

>Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 02:06:38 EDT

>

>Tony,

> I don't know if this is true what you say about McCain but,

if

>it

>is, he met the criteria and the academies are not known for lowering

their

>standards to pass more people. They work harder at recruiting better

>people.

>Matt Capo, PT

>Accelerated Physical Therapy and Occuptional Health, Inc.

>Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

There is one more piece to this issue that bears mentioning. The recent

lowering of the raw score to pass the NPTE was actually a RETURN to the

raw score that was used in prior years. In 2004, the passing score had

been RAISED without much public discussion. This did not seem to be in

response to negative outcomes from licensed PTs in prior years, nor did

it seem related to the difficulty of test items. In fact, many learned

about it only when investigating a surprising increase in the number of

graduates not passing on first attempt.

I was privileged to be asked by the FSBPT to be an observer of the

process involved in reviewing and ultimately revising the standard. As

noted on the FSBPT website, a criterion-referenced standard-setting

procedure was utilized, which supported the changed passing score. What

was interesting to me was that the REVISED passing score was essentially

the same as the score prior to 2004.

Passing the exam is necessary, but not sufficient to prove competency.

As a profession, we rely on academic and clinical faculty, as well as

other practicing professionals to help students and in fact all of us

attain and retain competency. This discussion is an example of our

passion to do just that.

**************************************

Janice Kuperstein, PT, MSEd

Associate Professor

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

College of Health Sciences

UK T. Wethington Jr. Building

900 South Limestone St

Lexington, KY 40536-0200

ext 80593

Fax:

Re: Re: Dumbing Down our Profession

>Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 02:06:38 EDT

>

>Tony,

> I don't know if this is true what you say about McCain but,

if

>it

>is, he met the criteria and the academies are not known for lowering

their

>standards to pass more people. They work harder at recruiting better

>people.

>Matt Capo, PT

>Accelerated Physical Therapy and Occuptional Health, Inc.

>Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

>

>

>

>