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The Edutopia Poll
by Sara Bernard
Last week, Judge Robert Freedman of California's Alameda County Superior Court struck down the state's exit-exam requirement for graduation from high school. Though the test was established with school reform in mind, some argue that such exams fail to address inequities between school districts, creating a bias against students in substandard schools. This contention was central to Freedman's ruling. Where do you stand on this issue? We're interested in your opinion.
I am in favor of state exit
Submitted by Denise (not verified) on September 29, 2008 - 20:30.
I am in favor of state exit exams and I had to take one in order to graduate high school. I have been teaching special education students for 11 years at the high school level. I do think that states do need to offer different levels of high school diplomas, so that everyone has the opportunity to receive a diploma. I feel that if you are going to college then you need to be prepared and that means meeting the requirements along with passing the test. I do realize that not every one is going to college, but every student deserves a high school diploma.
I don't think that we should
Submitted by cj (not verified) on September 23, 2008 - 10:52.
I don't think that we should have to take a test just to get out high school to where someone doesn't know a complete thing about the subject the tests could be on. The test may help get rid of the people who just copied or slipped along in life but they will get taught a lesson when they have no future career. It's just the same as self disipline
High school exit exam
Submitted by Becky Bradshaw (not verified) on August 11, 2008 - 20:29.
Viewing the comments posted previously on this topic reaffirmed the need for an exit exam. Many of the postings contain numerous spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammatical errors. I am embarrassed to think that this is the product our schools are turning out into the world. Many students seem to believe that they are entitled to a high school diploma basically because they graced our schools with their presence for a certain number of years. We really need to uphold standards and guarantee that we are creating and turning out a quality product. I have taught math for 33 years both at the junior high and postsecondary level and find that if we expect students to achieve at a certain level they will, for the most part, rise to that level, but if we continue to expect little that is what we receive. It takes work on our part and the part of our students.
HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on May 13, 2008 - 07:53.
NO NO HONEY
Emotional Reactions
Submitted by Corintheia B. (not verified) on February 21, 2008 - 14:01.
More then 80% of students that they increased studying,and nearly half made reductions in their extracurricular activities. students reported a wide range of adverse emotional reactions with over 80% reporting that they went threw severe depression, worried and embarassed. About half of the students claimed themselfs stupid and felt self-rejected. And students then started to report more frequntly by girls then boys and by the students in higher grade levels. these findings point to largely unaddressed need to study stundent reactions to failing high-stakes tests.
for more information please e-mail me on my hotmail. Thank you!
i believe that:
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on February 5, 2008 - 19:51.
I am a 8th grade student. And my perspective on exit exams are both ok and vary low. I feel that we should not have these exams to exit out of school, when you get that chance to be a senior in High School all you basically look forward to is graduating and earning your High school diploma. right? But then some kids get vary Uncomfortable taking these types of test. For my english class our teacher is making us right a pro and con speech about something to do with school. My own choice was High School Students should take a test in order to graduate from High School, and for my con they should not have to pass a test in order to graduate from High School. I recently read an article when i was researching that kids get to nervous they vomit on there test or they get all emotional and end up running out of the class crying. I blieve that we should not make teens scared of the test, and then they end up failing. But I also believe that we need to have better teachers. I do know that I know the teachers that are there to help by just the way they regularly are in class when they are teaching us and I do know that my language arts teacher is probably the one i like the most from them all. He knows what he is talking about, and makes sure that everyone in the class understands as well as him. I know that for a fact that i now write better and I know what I am doing in that class. But even though that i said i understand doesnt mean i am ready for a test why do i say that because i am the type that gets frusterated and will probably vomit all over my exam. Test arent the best things that work with me. Like I know all of the materials just when it comes to the test and i am put on the spot i get red and hot and i dont know what to do and get caught with a problem. I also will forget the anwser and then when i leave the classroom when class is over i then remember the anwser and beat myself over that stupid one question. So i believe that for my future when i am in High School I dont have to take a test to graduate high school.
graduation exam
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on January 22, 2008 - 12:16.
I would not have a problem with the graduation exam if all schools were created equal. We know that they are not. You have some school that have the best of everything. Then you have other schools in other areas needing. Everyone know the School System is not fair for all people. Especially in Minority areas. I work at a school in a low income area. I see first hand the difference the school board make. We are always last on the list for anything. Make all things equal for all people then I could support the exam.
High school exit exams.
Submitted by Marvin McConoughey (not verified) on December 23, 2007 - 11:14.
Yes! Let there be universal high school exit exams. The exams should be at a level of difficulty sufficient to demonstrate acceptable, though low, levels of learning sufficient to merit action by a prospective employer to employ the graduate. It is viciously racist to suggest that we should not expect our hundreds of different minorities to learn well in K-12. It is racist to suggest that some minorities are so lacking in intellect that they cannot perform well in school despite high effort. We must reject racism and focus on individual performance, the great equalizer.
Whatever one's personal familial concerns, the broad objective of education is to provide the nation with graduates who merit being employed. And that requires some minimal level of graduate quality. An exit exam verifies that the trillion dollars a year spent on American education has brought, or not brought, acceptable results from that history-making mammoth investment.
what about learning disabled childeren
Submitted by gabriel (not verified) on December 10, 2007 - 19:09.
should these test should be the same for learning disabled childeren. i think the state should rewrite theres test so it is still challenging but they are able to pass this test.
Exit tests
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on October 26, 2007 - 10:15.
What is wrong with you people? These exit tests aren't geared for students to fail. These tests are set up for todays kids to learn what is needed at high school levels to be successful not only in college but in life. It's definately not a race issue and if you make it that shame on you. English is our first language so quit making excuses for students not to learn it. If todays students can't pass these mastery test in english what is that saying and don't place blame on the teachers. As a parent I recall spending many of hours with my son to learn how to properly write a paper. Students as well as parents and teachers need to take on their own responsiblities in learning what is necessary to survive in todays society.
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