Another one where I don't agree with the answer

Auzbee

For years, the debate over public education reform has centered on financing. Many claim that pouring more money into the public schools will improve student performance. However, the only way to fix our school systems is to inject new ideas and new approaches. Today the schools are organized to benefit their adult employees rather than the students.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
A. Schools that have instituted “new approaches” attract the best performing students.
B. Schools without outside playgrounds have lower levels of student performance than schools that do.
C. Studies show that student performance corresponded most directly with the education of the students’ families.
D. School employees, by an overwhelming margin, said that the system performed well.
E. Researchers in education have shown that students from school districts with high per-capita spending tend to receive higher scores on standardized tests.

The OA is E but it does not weaken the conclusion 'the only way to fix our school systems is to inject new ideas and new approaches'. IMO the right answer should be C as it shows that it is not really new ideas or new approaches that helps improve student's performance.

How do you explain the OA?

sujaysolanki · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:23 am Post subject:

Finance is imp for schools ..many claim that more money ..better preformance
..But ideas are needed not money ...

Hence we get something in the answer choices that says that more money leads to better education ..will weaken the argument

Option C is out because no where in the argument are they talking about the families of the studentds

Hope this helps ..

sankruth · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:13 am Post subject:

nauman · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:29 am Post subject:

this is not guarantee if you teach student faimily's will help to improve students performance and second thing is this argument is revolving around two things spending more money or inject new ideas and approaches.
and B and E are the best choices among all. Because sometimes physical activity will help to improve student performance but argument is not focusing on playground or physical activity so B is out.
As for E if you spend more on student which is also against the claim that author made in the argument that employees are getting benefit not student also help to weaken the argument and second it improves the score in test which is also effect the student performance which is based on Study so E is the best choice.

nikhil_havele · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

Here the claim is that: "New ideas and approaches will improve school system not the financing" So in order to weaken this, we should look for statement which completely opposes it. So, best choice is E because it gives example of how financing helped to improve the school system.