Legislative Democrats have been trying to kill the high school exit exam because the state's public schools don't like the idea of being held accountable for what students learn. The exit exam ensures that high school diplomas have value.
This is what The Bee's editorial board said in an editorial today:
Democrats in the California Legislature took a giant step backward in education policy Tuesday. And they did it with no public comment, little debate and no heads-up to the California Department of Education.
The six Democrats on the 10-member budget conference committee voted to eliminate the law that makes the high school exit exam a graduation requirement. And they have the support of the Democratic leadership, Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass of Los Angeles.What is so puzzling is that students would still take the exit exam, but would not need to pass the test in order to get a diploma. This would not save the state much money, but would render diplomas worthless. At a time of budget crisis, sneaking in this pet policy matter of the teachers union totally undermines the Democrats' credibility on budget and education issues.
Now, I may not be the brightest bulb in the room, but I just have to ask: Why would the Dems want to "kill" the HS exit exam?
To pass it, means more study; To study more means getting smarter. If there is one thing the Dems DON’T want, it’s future potential voters "gettin' smarter."
It’s all about creating a dumbed-down class of easily manipulated sheeple! It’s a liberal thing!
Very typical. You set minimum standards to function in society as good citizen and they want to lower the bar again.
Just admit it. There are some people for a lot of different reasons that you cannot control or change by any means that just won't get it. That is the way it is. If it can't be taught do something else. Money obviously isn't the answer. And making it easier to get into college isn't working either when 45% you let in on lower standards, don't finish 4 years of college.
This whole set up is really a scam.
It would be my guess that none of them could pass the test if they took it. Smart people can't be manipulated as easy as those that aren't educated. This gtest is needed so that our future leaders and members of society can be self supporting and be able to understand. This country doesn't need any more dumb people.
don’t think that spending you entire high school career leaning how to pass one test makes you smarter. If score well on your tests in your required classes and pass them then you should be free to graduate. The main objective of any educational institution should be to educate students not to teach them how to pass a test. I am all for getting rid of the high school exit exam. We are talking about a diploma no a g.e.d. here.
Sean, are you serious? According to Wikepedia's description of the California exit exam, the english section tests students at an 8th grade level. The mathematics section tests students at a 7th grade level. The english portion requires a score of 60% to pass. The math portion requires a score of 55%. Students are offered six chances to pass the test beginning sophomore year. Good Lord, even Nancy Pelosi should be able to pass that test.
It's the teachers that don't want it and are probably pulling the Dems chain.Why is any type of accountabilty in education always demonized by the CTA and the left?...probably because "Stupidity" keeps them in power and they're just grooming future voters.
I am not arguing the difficulty of the test. I don’t think we should have one in the first place. I don’t care how easy it is or weather are not speaker Pelosi can pass it or not. I believe that teachers should teach students with the best of their ability the subjects at hand. If the parents feel the students are not receiving the education that they deserve then they should speak up. By your own admission this test is easy. So why use it? Only the teachers themselves can tell whether or not their students have retained the materials covered in class. It is up to the parents who are paying the taxes that fund the schools to be envied in their Childs education. Lets face it the worlds getting dumber our news coverage has become superficial our so called educational programming has concerned its self more with showing how motorcycles are built, what midgets do on a daily basis or the life of a human child factory. Education is a privilege not a right you pursue knowledge not obtain it. Our society needs to place more value on education and make it a higher priority.
Sean...how much is a higher priority?...100% of taxes.These lame excuses we have been getting for decades from the teachers and their union are just that ...excuses.Education has plenty of resources and more money and making it a higher priority(whatever that means)won't solve anything without a major attitude change by the above mentioned...it's not about education ...it's about setting themselves up for life...that's job #1 in their minds and demonize anything that may require accountability.You knew this was coming and it proves the point...thay've already filed a lawsuit to overturn the will of the voters on Prop 1b...how disgusting.
There is alot to be learned from how a motorcycle is built. It really is no different than any other creative process. How many motorcycles have you built Sean? I reassembled a wrecked BMW 900cc from the ground up on a staight frame I bought second hand. It much more useful than most learning experiences that I had up until then.
The changes must come from the parents of the students. I am not suggesting that it must come from the teachers union or that 100% of our taxes go to education. Maybe we need a voucher system or something. However no good solutions are going to come from the government. It seems that when republicans and democrats try to fix a problem there first thought is how can the government fix this problem. People must first become accountable for themselves then figure out a way to end the government monopoly on our schools.
Bart Turnipseed, there is nothing educational to be taken from American chopper. That time slot could be filled by actual educational programming. A show about a part man part walrus telling his sons where he is going to stick his size 9 boot, if they don’t finish building their motorcycle for cheese-it, falls far from educational programming, and remains in the realm of trash tv.
While serving in a Military Police battalion we took Harleys out of mothballs to gussy up for escorting VIPs. It was not a particularly educational experience. Keeping track of the parts was a pain in the a-- and putting them together was no fun either. Riding them was fun.
Sean, at this point anything that works better that state government should not be tinkered with.
Sarge riding was my primary source of transportation up to and until I discovered a long undiagnosed retinal impairment that causes straight lines to curve and oblitrates objects in my left field of vision. It helped to explain why I had a couple of accidents that were apparently avoidable otherwise. Those days are over for me but I miss them, sorely.
Sean...do you think any of those parents mentioned voted against Prop 1b?
I'll have to admit, I can understand TC's first paragraph in the first post. I too am a little surprised they want to eliminate it, and I can't say as I support their reasons although I do understand them. They say it's because there is no evidence it has had any affect on student's studies, and only creates fewer graduates. Students that now go into the world without a diploma which in turn sends them down a road to low income jobs, or worse, government dependence.
I think students should earn their way into the next grade, and ultimately a diploma, and be held back if they don't. My biggest fear in school was being held back or flunked and having all of my friends move on without me. That drove me to pass.
I also think we've gotten too soft on education, but I think the parents are mostly to blame for that. Teachers know better than anyone that those students who have parents who are very involved, do better in school. In other words, ignorant complacent parents raise ignorant complacent kids.
On the flip side though, we all didn't have to take an exit exam and we turned out ok. We simply had to pass and earn all the credits required to graduate.
i have to say yes it a good thing to kill the EXAM. due to this is causing students to drop out of school. and i for one believe this should not be a good way to stop students from not wanting to go to school. all i am saying HS EXAM is wasting so many students life. because they can't pass the exam
They could pass them if they applied themselves to learning. I would rather have the exam than have dump people in society which we will always have anyway and think that it keeps them more focused on studies.They need to have at least a basic education. I am sure most politicians and many adults couldn't pass the exam. They do teach alot of stuff that we never use again. I probably couldn't pass it since I have been out of school for 29 yrs and havent used alot that they taught me. We would all be better off if they taught life skills like budgeting your money versus all the math requirements. If you are going in to a field that requires it then ok but if you don't use it you lose it. I simply don't remember any of it and have made it this long without ever using algebra or geometry. For many it is the language barrier as they try to learn in English at school but other languages are spoken at home. This is a real detriment to the learning experience when they cant ask questions of their parents because they don't understand.