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Plunging test scores are a slow-moving catastrophe

207 points · 414 comments · vinni2

  1. vincent-uden · · focus · HN ↗
    This very much echoes the region of critical slowing down present in a dynamical system after its equilibrium states have disappeared due to a change in the system (a bifurcation).
    1. misterchocolat · · focus · HN ↗
      Holy sentence... George Orwell must be turning in his grave right now.
      1. vincent-uden · · focus · HN ↗
        A sentence isn't Orwellian just because you are unfamiliar with its terms. I though dynamical systems theory was quite common knowledge among engineers
        1. andsoitis · · focus · HN ↗
          The issue is that you're talking in abstraction and it isn't clear what the concrete thing is you're thinking of. Bluntly: you're being obscure rather than illuminating.

          For instance, with respect to this article, which is about test scores, how does dynamical systems theory describe what's going on or predict consequences?

      2. johnfn · · focus · HN ↗

        [dead]

      3. lelanthran · · focus · HN ↗
        What do you think Orwellian language means?
        1. peri-cl · · focus · HN ↗
          I think GP's was a reference to Politics and the English Language (1946)—not "1984". An essay against convoluted writing styles.

          <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fadedpage.com&#x2F;link.php?file=20180223.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fadedpage.com&#x2F;link.php?file=20180223.html

          <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Politics_and_the_English_Language" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Politics_and_the_English_Langu...

        2. misterchocolat · · focus · HN ↗
          Orwell&#x27;s 6 rules for good writing:

          1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.

          2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

          3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

          4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

          5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

          6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

          Now you tell me

          1. lelanthran · · focus · HN ↗
            &gt; Now you tell me

            That&#x27;s not what is understood when we use the term &quot;Orwellian&quot;:

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Orwellian" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Orwellian

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.merriam-webster.com&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;Orwellian" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.merriam-webster.com&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;Orwellian

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.oed.com&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;orwellian_adj?tl=true" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.oed.com&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;orwellian_adj?tl=true

            <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;dictionary.cambridge.org&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;english&#x2F;orwellian" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;dictionary.cambridge.org&#x2F;dictionary&#x2F;english&#x2F;orwellia...

            If both the wikipedia definitions and all the dictionary definitions differ from your definition, it&#x27;s probably not the dictionaries and wikipedia getting it wrong.

            1. misterchocolat · · focus · HN ↗
              Did I ever use the term &quot;Orwellian&quot; in my comment?
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