Should a Diploma Mean Something - or Not?In 2002, California began requiring its seniors to pass exit tests in order to receive their high school diplomas. Since that time, there have been numerous lawsuits filed on behalf of students who did not pass the test, yet believe they deserve to receive a diploma anyway either because they are not proficient in English or feel they have not been given the education necessary to pass the test due to unqualified teachers or poor funding. Here's an excerpt from an article covering the suit:
Wednesday's lawsuit was filed on behalf of 10 seniors who have not yet passed the exit exam and their parents. State officials estimate that 80,000 of California's seniors have not yet passed the exit exam. Schools with low exit exam pass rates tend to be overcrowded and lack credentialed teachers, the suit says.
Here's my take on the whole exit exam thing. These students have known since as early as 2002 that they would have to pass the test to get a diploma. They have been given practice tests and have been offered additional help in preparing for it. Yet now...when graduation (or not) is imminent....they decide it's necessary to file a suit to get a free ride instead of working harder in order to pass the test.
This is a diploma from a high school in the United States...a country where English is the official language. While I know learning English can be a challenge...there are many immigrants that do and they learn it well enough to not only pass the exit tests in many states, but they score high on SAT and ACT tests and gain entrance to prestigious colleges and universities all over the country. In my opinion, to say they should be given a diploma even though have not mastered the language, or basic math, or whatever..is just a copout.
What....others should have to study and pass the test but they shouldn't just because they haven't bothered to learn English? If the diploma is that important to them, they would find a way. Others have and are achieving the American dream their parents wanted for them when they brought them to this country. While it's not their fault that English is their second language, these are American schools where all the classes are taught in English, and so it makes sense the tests would be in English as well.
If we offer the test in Spanish, say...we are setting a very complicated precedent. It would open the door for all non-English speakers to be given the same treatment...soon millions of education dollars will go toward teaching and creating tests in tens, if not hundreds of languages. Do we really want to go down that road?
Having said that, it is clear that many schools in impoverished areas do not have the teachers or funding necessary to help some overly challenged kids pass the test. This is why I am for school vouchers so those kids who actually want a decent education and care about the diploma and passing the exit test would have access to the support they need to accomplish this goal. There are clearly problems that need to be addressed in these areas.
However....it's also clear these kids have known they would have to pass the test for years. I would be interested to find out more background regarding what they've done to alert the school they feel they are not being served, and what steps the parents have taken to help their kids prepare for the test. It's my guess, unfortunately, that they've done little or nothing to work with the school until they filed the suit.
I think a kid should at least be able to pass a test that measures a minimum level of subject matter mastery before they are given a diploma. The bank is not going to give them "alternative" ways to balance their checkbook and an employer is not going to give them "alternative ways" to write their reports or whatever. A diploma is supposed to show a person is prepared to move onto the next steps in their lives; it is not just another piece of paper that is given as a handout for showing up the minimum required days of school and sitting in a seat.
UPDATE: In her comment, Paula raises one of the key issues here. Educators for so long have only had to show up and have not had to worry about providing any certain level of education as they are protected by their unions and the lack of a school voucher system which their lobbyists have successfully blocked in Congress. If we did it the way they do it in Denmark, I would guess standards everywhere would be much higher as teachers and schools would need to entice kids to enroll and stay since the money follows each child to the school of their choice.
You can read more about the Denmark system here.
Man, I wish we could make this fly in the U.S. but I know it's not possible given the politics of the situation.
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Comments
I don't see why our school system could not support two languages, English and Spanish. Many countries do this already. Is it that wrong to educate our kids in more than one language?
As for the testing, I agree. You know that you have to take the test, so you should study. I am on the fence on whether or not the test could be provided in both English and Spanish. I see the precedent, but in reality, English and Spanish would probably cover 99% of all students.
Posted by: DrinkJack ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://thepeachpit.net/nav-commenters.gif)
on February 18, 2006 01:05 PM
ITA. Immigrants have been learning English for ages...why can't these newer ones? I also agree that a lot of public school teachers absolutely suck though and this is a legitimate complaint. But no one wants to (or is able to) break the power of the teachers' unions. I thought Ahnold might, but this is too tough a job even for the Governator.
Posted by: Paula on February 17, 2006 11:50 AM
