Are tutors for standardized tests fair?

Is having a tutor for the SSAT, SAT, or LSAT fair when not everyone can afford one? Knowing that, would you still get one if you could?

[herumuharman]

I'm glad that you can acknowledge that it's a problem. And I'm glad that you can still separate that from what's important for your children.

[JaySmasher]

You can feed your kids healthy safe food because you can afford it and still say our food system is broken. You gotta take care of your kids.

[Chalkedrip]

For additional context they are talking about their 5th grade going into 6th daughter and how she should go into a private school for an easier learning for her
And the test material is on 8th grade stuff so they have to get a tutor in order to try to get into a private school

I watched the video podcast yesterday so some information might be a little wrong

[emilyaford]

One of the best things my teacher did was teach us how to take the test, I did dramatically better after that and it highlighted for me the importance of knowing how to take a least as well as what’s on it

[erocker]

Lots of respect for you, addressing the issue out loud. I had a ton of assistance preparing for my tests, like a ton. You are helping by pointing out this is bullshit

[amandajones]

If you can afford it, pay for one other child to get tutoring. That's what we did. Anything we did for our children, I tried to donate so another child could get the same advantage.

[thegoogs]

i was working class but could never afford a tutor. ended up with solid but not excellent scores on both the SAT and ACT on my own. went to a regular state school on a full ride scholarship, but now for grad school i ended up at an ivy on a full ride. for me it was about the long game, however i have to say i’m the exception and not the rule. most people from my school didn’t get the scores to even get into the state school and deeply believed it was a reflection of their own intelligence and value, and internalized that rather than understanding how rigged the game really is. i got lucky, but most folks like me did not.

[victoriousbooks]

Sounds like someone needs to start a non-profit for tutoring services. Where families that can afford it pay a little extra & make donations towards the non-profit and that pays for children who couldn't afford a tutor to get the same experience

I work for non-profits so that's just where my brain goes

[travcollier]

These sorts of situations are quite common. The example I usually think of was a businessman being interviewed who was advocating for banning some particular parctices in his industry. When asked if he did the thing he wanted to ban, he said
"Yes, because if I don't my company will be out competed by another company which does it. That's why we need a rule against it."

[Fsi]

I have never met a person that can hold a self-contradictory viewpoint that, like, I couldn’t get along with.

If you can live with that dissonance, recognize that dissonance, it’s such a sign of a mature mind.

[bertdog]

As parents you have an obligation to do what’s best for your child. Your personal qualms with the issue are your own business to mull over and consider, but as parents you’re doing the right thing by giving your child the best chances possible.

[juno]

Best you can do is not just acknowledge the problem *yourself*, but let your child know that they are lucky to be in the circumstance they are. Don't let them have an ego like a ton of rich kids do, where they think they deserve their wealth. Let them know how fortunate they are, and hopefully they'll connect the dots that although they may be smart themselves, they had tools others didn't to help them.

[carazy_]

I spent years doing this and helping people figure out the game. It is what it is but it translates to real money, so you do what you have to in order to compete

[mscbijles]

Besides “playing the game”, tutoring to the test may also cause anxiety in kids. They feel like every test is extremely important (but let’s face it, their not! Especially not if you believe in the American dream, there are ample ways!) and may develop the feeling they’re not allowed to fail. (Either explicitly or implicitly.) Sure it doesn’t happen to every kid, but I see it myself as a teacher: extensive testing as if your life depends on it causes stress in both parents and kids and it only teaches the kids they CANNOT, SHOULD NOT and MAY NOT FAIL!!

[phiyaless]

Even beyond affording tutoring, lower-income school districts typically have less resources and thus not as good education - which can make a big difference! I was able to get a good SAT score with no tutor mostly because my schools were very well funded.

[stevengreidinger]

The thing to be careful of if you’re pushing achievement this much is to understand and avoid the psychological risks.

[toonsoffun]

Having a loving mother and father in the house helps the most.

[emma-dily]

I hate this system, too. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t have a tutor (just studied for the SSAT on my own time) and I got a great score and got into every school I applied to. I just found what was on the test online and practiced on my own, plus talked to my friend with a tutor and asked what she learned. Not trying to brag, just trying to say that it is possible. Still a messed up system though, I 100% agree.

[Silverizael]

It really does make you wonder how, if everyone had the academic opportunities that the rich do to reach their full potential, how much further along we would be as a society.

How many more inventions and discoveries we would have made because the people who have the talent to be someone would have been able to reach that dream.

[MintRobin]

If you're handed an opportunity, take it. Don't throw it away because someone else wasn't handed that opportunity.

All you're doing is putting yourself closer to people who don't get opportunities, and further from people who take them. Other people WILL take them. Don't let them get ahead.