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Michigan Educational Assessment Program

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The Michigan Educational Assessment Program, commonly known as MEAP, is a standardized test. The test is taken by all public school students in the U.S. state of Michigan from elementary school to middle/junior high school. For high school students the MEAP test was replaced in 2007 by the Michigan Merit Exam. Template:Fn,Template:Fn Students scoring very well on the high school test earn the Michigan Merit Award, a $2,500 college scholarship.

History

The program was started by the State Board of Education and supported by then Governor William G. Millken. The MEAP tests were first administered during the 1969-70 school year for the purpose of determining at various points in a student's career, their progress compared to standards set by the State Board of Education.

Recently it was found that the requirement for students to have 40 hours of community service in order to receive the merit scholarship of $2500 was unconstitutional by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. [1]

Criticism

Many of the criticisms of the test are common to all standardized tests. Opponents feel that standardized tests cannot correctly measure student knowledge, performance, or learning. Others feel that Michigan should not waste so much money on developing their own test and instead should use national tests, that would conform better to the standards of the rest of the country.

Michigan Educational Assessment Program Demon

The MEAP demon is a popular figure in popular culture and mythology. He is based on the MEAP test.

In the book series by Garth Nix, The Abhorsen Trilogy, the villian of the last book, Orannis, is revealed to be a pawn of the MEAP demon, who imprisoned him in the seventh level of the Death (Abhorsen Trilogy).

In Frank Herbert's bestselling book series, Dune, the antagonists of the last two books, the Honored Matres, gain their immense speed and physical prowess from sacrificing innocents to the Great MEAP Demon.

In Norse mythology, worshippers believed that hell was a deep cavern underground where the damned were forced to take standardized tests and/or write endless pages of MLA citations.

In Lord of the Rings, Sauron is the MEAP demon's son. His physical appearance later in life reflects that of his father. Morgoth, Sauron's master, was good friends with the MEAP demon. They reportedly had lunch together in the Shire at one point. The MEAP demon captured Hobbits and made their souls into Balrogs.

In the sucessful action film The Matrix, the MEAP demon is not present. However, the main antagonist,Agent Smith, is nicknamed Mr. MEAP.

In Greek and Roman mythology, worshippers believed that a creature known as MEAP was the ultimate manifestation of pure and complete evil, even beyond Cronus/Uranus. The MEAP as featured in classical mythology was inspiration for its inclusion in other religions.

In George Lucas's film, Star Wars Episode 7, the Sith return in the form of Darth MEAP. While he is not referred to as such in the movie itself, all promotional material and official guidebooks spell his name in all caps.

Mirages are thought to be caused by the MEAP demon.

References

  1. Michigan department of education. Michigan Educational Assessment Program. Retrieved April 26, 2005
  2. The State of Michigan. Michigan Merit Award. Retrieved June 22, 2005
  3. The State of Michigan. Michigan Merit Exam. Retrieved April 26, 2005
  4. Michigan Department of Education. Design and Validity of the MEAP Test. Retrieved April 26, 2005
  5. The Office of the Governor, Jennifer Granholm. (2005) Governor Granholm Signs Legislation to Better Prepare High School Students for Success
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