Pol Correct

Definition: Race-norming is the practice of adjusting scores on a standardized test by using separate curves for different racial groups The idea of race norming started with the federal government in the early 1980’s and was made illegal by the Civil Rights Act of 1991. This act introduced the idea of Disparate Impact. This says that while a test does not appear to discriminate the fact that there are disproportionately fewer minorities is proof of discrimination. In other words race norming was distasteful this new concept is palatable. The most well-known examples of race norming are the police and fire departments in big cities across the country but the process was carried out in other departments. A test is given to applicants for these jobs and Blacks and Hispanics did not perform well enough to qualify and thus special test were made up for these groups so that they could qualify. In order to make up for inequities, governments often change the rules. In Minnesota the high school graduation rates for minorities is disturbingly low and steps were taken to correct this situation. One of the requirements to graduate was passing a math test and this was a serious stumbling block to many minority students, so instead of making up a new test for this group the decision was made, to allow a waiver for those who failed the test three times to graduate. Sometimes the best way to illustrate the absurdity of such behavior is to take some more extreme examples. It is well known that tall men and attractive women have an advantage in the job market. 80% of male CEO’s are over 6 feet tall. Is that just a coincidence? When hiring two equally qualified men should preference be given to the shorter candidate to a make up for this past bias? How about selecting women who are less attractive? What about overweight people? The majority of managers have good communication skills. Should an effort be made to promote more with poor communication skills? These are ridiculous concepts but where does this practice begin and end and who decides? They may follow the path that politically corrected speech has taken. Everyone knows some examples and here are a couple: A school in Seattle renamed its Easter eggs 'spring spheres' to avoid causing offence to people who did not celebrate Easter. "A UK council has banned the term 'brainstorming' – and replaced it with 'thought showers', as local lawmakers thought the term may offend epileptics."