Should the seniors walk?

Madea

Madea

zip a dee doo dah
Can't believe you guys aren't talking about this! Paulding Co has voted to stick with policy and not allow any senior to walk that isn't actually graduating. What do you think?
 
I guess I'm missing something because that makes sense to me. Graduation ceremony is about graduating. If you aren't graduating, why would you be participating in it?
 
A lot of them aren't allowed to walk in graduation because they failed at least one block on the graduation test. Obviously, there is something wrong with this test because there have been some straight A students who have failed a particular section of it - History. The state announced earlier this year, this would be the last graudating class to take the graduation test because so many seniors each year fail it. Does anyone see any red flags here?

When I graduated from high school, we had to have a certain amount of total credits, and credits for three years in each Math, English Phys Ed, and Social Science; a credit in Government, and 2 credits in Science. That right there seems reasonable.

We took what used to be a working education program and decided it needed to be fixed, rather than improved on with changes in technology.
 
It is a ridiculous test of knowledge Fox when half of it has not been taught, some of it does not align with the curriculum, and the kids have passed EOCT's and the classes. Our Juniors did have to take it though for graduation next year. They are phasing it out in steps for a reason; it does not give a credible assessment of a students knowledge of the material he/she learned.
 
While I agree that an exit exam is stupid if the grades and the finals are all in line I do have to ask ... if the test is so flawed why is it that such a relatively small number of kids are having trouble with it? I believe the report said just over 100 kids countywide failed. While it sucks for them, how did so many other kids pass if the test is that flawed?

Again ... I think the concept of the exit exam like this one is flawed and stupid but I am trying to understand the situation.
 
unionmom said:
While I agree that an exit exam is stupid if the grades and the finals are all in line I do have to ask ... if the test is so flawed why is it that such a relatively small number of kids are having trouble with it? I believe the report said just over 100 kids countywide failed. While it sucks for them, how did so many other kids pass if the test is that flawed?

Again ... I think the concept of the exit exam like this one is flawed and stupid but I am trying to understand the situation.
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I am not sure about that number, really. My son knows many just at one school that can not walk. You do have a point and I am not sure of an answer. The only thing I can fathom is just that from taking it over and over they finally guessed correct? That would be a good one to ask my friends.
I can say that at my sons school there was a high number of Juniors that already did not pass it for next year. :( The tests the Juniors took were different than the ones the Seniors did because of the GPS and new Math vs the Senior class that was still doing the QCC.
 
In my ever so humble opinion ... none of this new math or CRCT or exit exam crap would be necessary if teachers were allowed to give honest grades without fear of reprisal from administration and/or parents and if teacher tenure was eliminated. And heaven forbid our schools be allowed (and encouraged) to identify kids that are simply not up to the same level(s) as their peers and put them in, heaven forbid, Special Ed classes.
 
unionmom said:
In my ever so humble opinion ... none of this new math or CRCT or exit exam crap would be necessary if teachers were allowed to give honest grades without fear of reprisal from administration and/or parents and if teacher tenure was eliminated. And heaven forbid our schools be allowed (and encouraged) to identify kids that are simply not up to the same level(s) as their peers and put them in, heaven forbid, Special Ed classes.
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I :love You!!!!!
 
The news is reporting 109 unable to walk. I'm going to go ahead and assume that those numbers are from the board and it's specifically related to this specific issue. Others may not be walking for other reasons. I don't know how long this rule has been in effect, but I'm going to assume (again) it's been there throughout their high school careers. I understand the parent's frustration (really, I do), but where have they been all year? I also wonder if their frustration isn't mis-directed.
 
What gets me is these student that failed certain portions of the test had numerous chances to pass it if I am not mistaken. Why would you as a parent not get your student a tutor or extra help if you see them fail it 2 or 3 times? I understand the test is being phased out, but until it is the rules still stand. Why I think its sad they can't walk, I also think it's sad that some of these kids can't pass the history portion 4 or 5 times. Now I will admit that I probably couldn't pass it as an adult but if it was required for me to get out of school, I would make sure to get some help to ensure that I passed it.

I don't like the saying, well they aren't good test takers..that's a cop out. If they are not test takers, then how did they pass the other sections and not the history section? Im just curious.
 
Here's one thing to consider about the History portion of the test; what year of high school did they take History? Most take it their sophomore year.

When students take their final exams each year, they're not really final exams now are they? I always thought the graduation test was worthless. I still don't see what was wrong with the education system when I was in high school.
 
RNG said:
What gets me is these student that failed certain portions of the test had numerous chances to pass it if I am not mistaken. Why would you as a parent not get your student a tutor or extra help if you see them fail it 2 or 3 times? I understand the test is being phased out, but until it is the rules still stand. Why I think its sad they can't walk, I also think it's sad that some of these kids can't pass the history portion 4 or 5 times. Now I will admit that I probably couldn't pass it as an adult but if it was required for me to get out of school, I would make sure to get some help to ensure that I passed it.

I don't like the saying, well they aren't good test takers..that's a cop out. If they are not test takers, then how did they pass the other sections and not the history section? Im just curious.
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What about the kids that did go to tutoring before/after school and were pulled out of (elective) classes to tutor and still did not pass? I have spoke with 3 parents that this is the case. I understand the "rules" but I just have an issue with something that is in place and recognized as being flawed and still using it.
That is the reason all but four counties in the entire state allow the children to walk.
 
This is a good example on why the state school board needs to give control of the curriculum to the local districts. The districts are using the state curriculum and giving the students state controlled tests (CRCT and graduation) in which too many students are failing. For gosh sake, the state can't seem to come up with a test to measure performance that matches the curriculum. These tests are seriously flawed because the poor performance is state-wide and not isolated.

I wonder how many of these students who will not be able to graduate because they failed a portion of the graduation test, scored well enough on their SAT and were accepted for enrollment into college?
 
ShoeDiva said:
RNG said:
What gets me is these student that failed certain portions of the test had numerous chances to pass it if I am not mistaken. Why would you as a parent not get your student a tutor or extra help if you see them fail it 2 or 3 times? I understand the test is being phased out, but until it is the rules still stand. Why I think its sad they can't walk, I also think it's sad that some of these kids can't pass the history portion 4 or 5 times. Now I will admit that I probably couldn't pass it as an adult but if it was required for me to get out of school, I would make sure to get some help to ensure that I passed it.

I don't like the saying, well they aren't good test takers..that's a cop out. If they are not test takers, then how did they pass the other sections and not the history section? Im just curious.
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What about the kids that did go to tutoring before/after school and were pulled out of (elective) classes to tutor and still did not pass? I have spoke with 3 parents that this is the case. I understand the "rules" but I just have an issue with something that is in place and recognized as being flawed and still using it.
That is the reason all but four counties in the entire state allow the children to walk.
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Good point Shoediva! If they have done all the tutoring and all that goes with it and still didn't pass but still made the grade in class I say they should let them walk. I will be glad when they phase it out all together.
 
Even when I was in HS, there were people that didnt get to walk because they didnt pass the graduation test... I dont see what the big deal is... no pass, no walk.
 
Foxmeister said:
This is a good example on why the state school board needs to give control of the curriculum to the local districts. The districts are using the state curriculum and giving the students state controlled tests (CRCT and graduation) in which too many students are failing. For gosh sake, the state can't seem to come up with a test to measure performance that matches the curriculum. These tests are seriously flawed because the poor performance is state-wide and not isolated.

I wonder how many of these students who will not be able to graduate because they failed a portion of the graduation test, scored well enough on their SAT and were accepted for enrollment into college?
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Get ready for less control by the local BOE. The Feds will be telling them what we have to do. Georgia signed on the National Standards.
 
newsjunky said:
Foxmeister said:
This is a good example on why the state school board needs to give control of the curriculum to the local districts. The districts are using the state curriculum and giving the students state controlled tests (CRCT and graduation) in which too many students are failing. For gosh sake, the state can't seem to come up with a test to measure performance that matches the curriculum. These tests are seriously flawed because the poor performance is state-wide and not isolated.

I wonder how many of these students who will not be able to graduate because they failed a portion of the graduation test, scored well enough on their SAT and were accepted for enrollment into college?
Click to expand...
Get ready for less control by the local BOE. The Feds will be telling them what we have to do. Georgia signed on the National Standards.
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Good grief. States complain about how the feds are always trying to force themselves upon them, but they turn around and agree to crap like this.
 
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