Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - 30,000 Florida High School students fail to graduate!

TheIceMan · 06-06-2003, 08:51 AM

Wow, so many good points you guys/gals have raised. Like some have mentioned, this issue is much larger than "who's to blame?" We live in a society that allows children to pass regardless of their abilities.

Bill O'Rights: You asked a great question - "Regarding the 18 year old girl in your example...why was she allowed to have progressed so far through the system as to be a senior on a 3rd and 5th grade level? Shouldn't this have been identified long before now? And if it was, why weren't corrective measures put into place at that time? What broke down here?

"What are your feelings on the "No Child Left Behind" theory of education... I have seen entire classrooms stagnating for weeks because one or two of the kids need extra help with (or just don't give a rats ass about) the subject matter."

This is my point also. Why are students allowed to pass for so long when clearly they have not demonstrated any mastery over the required materials? Naturally, by the time they are in high school and about to graduate it is too late to "correct this."

I grew up in SouthEast Asia where teachers are highly respected. In Vietnam (they followed the French education system) we were required to take and pass a comprehensive exam at the end of every school year. Failure to pass this exam meant that you had to stay back. Let me tell you that many of us did pass.

I think that an end-of-the-year exam should be required for 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.

Let's forget the logistics and politics of this requirement and indulge me for a second. By frequently testing students, we can identify and hold accountable parents, teachers, students, and the school system for the student's failure. IF we had this requirement implemented on a national level, all states would be required the same thing. Furthermore, education funding would be provided to ensure that every school had enough money to adequately compensate quality teachers and provide textbooks and tools necessary for a proper education. We must raise the bar and students will RISE up to meet it.

06-06-2003, 08:51 AM	#21 (permalink)
TheIceMan Insane Location: Trapped in the depths of my mind	Wow, so many good points you guys/gals have raised. Like some have mentioned, this issue is much larger than "who's to blame?" We live in a society that allows children to pass regardless of their abilities. Bill O'Rights: You asked a great question - "Regarding the 18 year old girl in your example...why was she allowed to have progressed so far through the system as to be a senior on a 3rd and 5th grade level? Shouldn't this have been identified long before now? And if it was, why weren't corrective measures put into place at that time? What broke down here? "What are your feelings on the "No Child Left Behind" theory of education... I have seen entire classrooms stagnating for weeks because one or two of the kids need extra help with (or just don't give a rats ass about) the subject matter." This is my point also. Why are students allowed to pass for so long when clearly they have not demonstrated any mastery over the required materials? Naturally, by the time they are in high school and about to graduate it is too late to "correct this." I grew up in SouthEast Asia where teachers are highly respected. In Vietnam (they followed the French education system) we were required to take and pass a comprehensive exam at the end of every school year. Failure to pass this exam meant that you had to stay back. Let me tell you that many of us did pass. I think that an end-of-the-year exam should be required for 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. Let's forget the logistics and politics of this requirement and indulge me for a second. By frequently testing students, we can identify and hold accountable parents, teachers, students, and the school system for the student's failure. IF we had this requirement implemented on a national level, all states would be required the same thing. Furthermore, education funding would be provided to ensure that every school had enough money to adequately compensate quality teachers and provide textbooks and tools necessary for a proper education. We must raise the bar and students will RISE up to meet it. __________________ Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today.