Comments on: Firefighters Stoke The Fires Of Disparity http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/ It's about our community and our spirituality! Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:36:02 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: brotherpeacemaker http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6832 brotherpeacemaker Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:50:08 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6832 Thanks for the feedback Fredhead Smyth, I've asked the same questions. I was watching the Colbert Report when it claimed to have seen the test. One of the questions from the test was actually, "Which one of the words below is spelled correctly?" So I guess spelling is one of those criteria that makes for good firefighters. Peace Thanks for the feedback Fredhead Smyth,

I’ve asked the same questions. I was watching the Colbert Report when it claimed to have seen the test. One of the questions from the test was actually, “Which one of the words below is spelled correctly?” So I guess spelling is one of those criteria that makes for good firefighters.

Peace

]]> By: Fredhead Smyth http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6828 Fredhead Smyth Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:53:07 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6828 As the article pointed out since 2003 only one other black person is a captain. Even with this information you would want to know how many blacks have took the test each time it was given. What is being tested? What is the test measuring? Has anyone seen the test to see what kind of information you need to know to pass? Is the test public information? Also some people just do well on multiple choice type questions and true and false type tests? In a command position you don't want someone who is simply a good test taker, but someone who knows the regs. but can make sound life saving decisions. As the article pointed out since 2003 only one other black person is a captain. Even with this information you would want to know how many blacks have took the test each time it was given. What is being tested? What is the test measuring? Has anyone seen the test to see what kind of information you need to know to pass? Is the test public information? Also some people just do well on multiple choice type questions and true and false type tests? In a command position you don’t want someone who is simply a good test taker, but someone who knows the regs. but can make sound life saving decisions.

]]> By: brotherpeacemaker http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6731 brotherpeacemaker Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:33:01 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6731 C, Frank Madgett, Your less than helpful comment has been deleted. If people like me make you so sick why do you bother to come back and post your shit? People like you can go to fucking hell! Your comments are no longer welcome. Good riddance... C, Frank Madgett,

Your less than helpful comment has been deleted. If people like me make you so sick why do you bother to come back and post your shit? People like you can go to fucking hell! Your comments are no longer welcome.

Good riddance…

]]> By: C, Frank Madgett http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6730 C, Frank Madgett Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:24:11 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6730 [Comment Deleted] [Comment Deleted]

]]> By: theblacksentinel http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6702 theblacksentinel Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:37:43 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6702 From what I have been hearing on NPR about the test is that it was weighted so that it placed a higher percent of its score from a written multiple choice test versus the verbal job knowledge questions. They are saying that certain vocabulary is used in these written tests that disparage some races versus others. That is the reason the State was pulling the test. If they went on the verbal alone it would have been a mix of races and therefore not as one sided. Also, the people giving the verbal test were from outside and a mix of all racial background in hopes of preventing discrimination. And what was said is that there was NO discrimination because no one was promoted. If they had promoted the blacks over the whites then you would have a problem. They were throwing everything out in order to devise a test that was not weighted to any one area. And it has been widely assessed inside the firefighter community that New Haven was using a testing procedure everyone else left in the dust long ago. So that tells me that it wasn't really a fair assessment. Thanks. From what I have been hearing on NPR about the test is that it was weighted so that it placed a higher percent of its score from a written multiple choice test versus the verbal job knowledge questions.

They are saying that certain vocabulary is used in these written tests that disparage some races versus others. That is the reason the State was pulling the test. If they went on the verbal alone it would have been a mix of races and therefore not as one sided.

Also, the people giving the verbal test were from outside and a mix of all racial background in hopes of preventing discrimination. And what was said is that there was NO discrimination because no one was promoted. If they had promoted the blacks over the whites then you would have a problem.

They were throwing everything out in order to devise a test that was not weighted to any one area. And it has been widely assessed inside the firefighter community that New Haven was using a testing procedure everyone else left in the dust long ago. So that tells me that it wasn’t really a fair assessment.

Thanks.

]]> By: James http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6699 James Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:06:23 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6699 A lot of what firefighters deal with, in practice, involves rules and regulations. This is especially true once firefighters have experience and are promoted. While you aren't concerned about rules and regulations when being rescued, you sure hope that the more senior firefighters in the department have been handling administration well, so that your rescue goes smoothly! Even basic firefighting, though, requires a solid knowledge of fire characteristics and how to handle specific situations. You don't want firefighters who are simply brave and know how to put on a coat and swing an axe. A lot of what firefighters deal with, in practice, involves rules and regulations. This is especially true once firefighters have experience and are promoted. While you aren’t concerned about rules and regulations when being rescued, you sure hope that the more senior firefighters in the department have been handling administration well, so that your rescue goes smoothly!

Even basic firefighting, though, requires a solid knowledge of fire characteristics and how to handle specific situations. You don’t want firefighters who are simply brave and know how to put on a coat and swing an axe.

]]> By: brotherpeacemaker http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6698 brotherpeacemaker Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:53:40 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6698 Thanks for the feedback Bettina Hansel, I have been curious about the test as well. What kind of written test do firefighters take to determine who is to be promoted? If I was in a fire and there was a firefighter rescuing me the last thing on my mind would be how high his test score was. Can he do the job? Peace Thanks for the feedback Bettina Hansel,

I have been curious about the test as well. What kind of written test do firefighters take to determine who is to be promoted? If I was in a fire and there was a firefighter rescuing me the last thing on my mind would be how high his test score was. Can he do the job?

Peace

]]> By: Bettina Hansel http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6694 Bettina Hansel Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:48:58 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6694 I've been very curious about the test itself. I did hear that one of the white firefighters was dyslexic and hired a coach and used flashcards to help him do well on the test, but I have to wonder then: what kind of a test is this that determines promotion for fire fighters? Shouldn't it be based on ... oh, excellent judgement and experience about how to deal with smoke conditions, how to get people out of a burning building, how to avoid collapsing beams, and the like? What could possible be memorized on flash cards that would warrant a promotion? But to the main point: They guy had the wherewithall to HIRE a coach to help him. He has no doubt had extra support all the way to help with the dyslexia. And so he should! In this case, the judges didn't feel that the coaching was unfair. I don't know if any test support was available to the black firefighters. Tests always risk being unfair because those making the tests make assumptions about the familiarity with the contexts they describe to set the questions. I’ve been very curious about the test itself. I did hear that one of the white firefighters was dyslexic and hired a coach and used flashcards to help him do well on the test, but I have to wonder then: what kind of a test is this that determines promotion for fire fighters? Shouldn’t it be based on … oh, excellent judgement and experience about how to deal with smoke conditions, how to get people out of a burning building, how to avoid collapsing beams, and the like? What could possible be memorized on flash cards that would warrant a promotion?

But to the main point: They guy had the wherewithall to HIRE a coach to help him. He has no doubt had extra support all the way to help with the dyslexia. And so he should! In this case, the judges didn’t feel that the coaching was unfair. I don’t know if any test support was available to the black firefighters.

Tests always risk being unfair because those making the tests make assumptions about the familiarity with the contexts they describe to set the questions.

]]> By: brotherpeacemaker http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6689 brotherpeacemaker Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:39:00 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6689 I guess I have missed the point. How could it be equal when only white people are getting opportunities of promotion? If only white people are being promoted then how is this equal? As usual the deck is stacked in the favor of white privilege. Peace I guess I have missed the point. How could it be equal when only white people are getting opportunities of promotion? If only white people are being promoted then how is this equal? As usual the deck is stacked in the favor of white privilege.

Peace

]]> By: C, Frank Madgett http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/firefighters-stoke-the-fires-of-disparity/#comment-6688 C, Frank Madgett Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:28:06 +0000 http://brotherpeacemaker.wordpress.com/?p=5390#comment-6688 As usual you have missed the point and choose to decry REAL equality not the stacked deck you prefer. As usual you have missed the point and choose to decry REAL equality not the stacked deck you prefer.

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