Suit Filed Against High Schools' Exit Exam

I think a high school exit exam is a wonderful idea. The only thing there should be a lawsuit about is making it standard for ALL graduating students. There should be no complaints about an exam like that hindering one from graduating. A student should only graduate if he/she has learned the material. The math portion is so critical. If you can't pass a fair 12th grade equivilency test, you should be required to have extra schooling. I have seen an abundance of young people these days that can't make change for a happy meal out of a $10 bill without a calculator or register. They have high school diplomas!!!! You have to earn your diploma by learning not just showing up to the classroom and skimming by with a 70 average to graduate!!! A diploma almost means nothing these days.

I think that high school exit exam is a really great test and experience. If a student is not able to pass the exam, than they should be getting more schooling. The test is not hard at all. I past it my first year i took it.

well personatly i think that there should not be one thers should be an english one but not a amth one well because of the reason that well many that dont pass it and have all the credits they just dont gardutate just get a certificat thats wrong cause yourgoing to school to geta carrer not to get a certificate ??????????

hey that was worth while .

jhon doe wrote:

well personatly i think that there should not be one thers should be an english one but not a amth one well because of the reason that well many that dont pass it and have all the credits they just dont gardutate just get a certificat thats wrong cause yourgoing to school to geta carrer not to get a certificate ??????????

hey that was worth while .

LOL!!!! I think you need to take the exam

Bob wrote:

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LOL!!!! I think you need to take the exam

I think he is baiting.

I don't mean to single you out, but as your writing demonstrates, California has a major problem with educating its youth. Too many kids make it through school with their teachers giving them decent grades, not because they have a grasp of the material but because the teachers don't want to deal with them repeating classes. I've met people with high school diplomas who have the skills of a 6th grader; did you know there are people graduating that can't even read?

Without an exam exam, a high school diploma is totally worthless. It would be unfair to both the students who actually work hard in school, and to those students who need the extra help and don't get it.

jhon doe wrote:

well personatly i think that there should not be one thers should be an english one but not a amth one well because of the reason that well many that dont pass it and have all the credits they just dont gardutate just get a certificat thats wrong cause yourgoing to school to geta carrer not to get a certificate ??????????

hey that was worth while .

Sorry, but a statewide minimum standard makes sense. It helps ensure that graduates have earned their diploma. A high-school diploma is not a right; it is a privilege conferred on those who meet the standard. To those who do not, tough titty. Should have spent less time majoring in Smoking Area.

What about a national standards exam that incorporated what employers want in a future employee? Japan and Germany both have national exams that measure a student's overall abilities as a marketable asset. Companies will not hire that student unless they have passed the exam which measures intelligence in more than "academics". California's High School Exit Exam measures, in a very narrow way, what those students will need to exhibit upon entering the workforce,(...or not). Which is why they are in school in the first place, is it not?

P Edwards wrote:

What about a national standards exam that incorporated what employers want in a future employee? Japan and Germany both have national exams that measure a student's overall abilities as a marketable asset.

I think the exams are a great first step in building an absolute minimum baseline for what is expected of graduating students, but I would be wary of pushing the standardization of exams to the degree that Japan (can't speak for Germany) has. There, grades actually mean little, and the exams mean pretty much everything, and this causes a whole separate mess of problems.

newt wrote:

I don't mean to single you out, but as your writing demonstrates, California has a major problem with educating its youth. Too many kids make it through school with their teachers giving them decent grades, not because they have a grasp of the material but because the teachers don't want to deal with them repeating classes. I've met people with high school diplomas who have the skills of a 6th grader; did you know there are people graduating that can't even read?

Without an exam exam, a high school diploma is totally worthless. It would be unfair to both the students who actually work hard in school, and to those students who need the extra help and don't get it.

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Not to mention that taxpayers are forking out millions each year for modified babysitters. We end up paying all this money for a kid who's denser coming out of school than they were going in.

Second Thoughts wrote:

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Not to mention that taxpayers are forking out millions each year for modified babysitters. We end up paying all this money for a kid who's denser coming out of school than they were going in.

I live in a 'Model' school District, Capistrano Unified Schools. The students have continual mandatory state tests and my children have certainly benefited. They are smarter than I was at their age. They are better prepared to continue their education and develop careers.

My two youngest are in High School, one in advanced classes holding a 4.3 GPA. She has many pressures from school, homework, exams, essays, quizzes and her college prospects. She studies five times harder than I did and she is going to go five times farther, I believe, with or without an exam.

That being said, my oldest daughter is a drop out. She felt she would never have passed any pressures ahead of her. Now she works at a head shop because she couldn't produce the expectations of the system.

She is uneducated. She could have been better educated (very beneficial for all) at a private school I think. She isn't stupid. She is an uneducated rebel who is probably going to drain state resources if she doesn't smarten up!

What am I saying probably! The only reason she is not draining State resources is because I helpher out. Geesh.

What the heck does an 12th grader know about what's fair, and unfair, in life? I'm constantly amazed at how it's the fools who make all the rules.

For the most part, the Asians and the Middle Eastererns can pass this exam with no problem. The Whites and Hispanics can pass it with some help from their parents. But, if I'm Black, it becomes discriminatory and unfair implying that my group is too stupid, or too lazy to grasp 8th grade Math and English before I graduate the 12th grade. However, if you agree with my assertion, you become a racist. Not to mention, if there are Blacks that put due importance and emphasis upon this exam, so as to actually study and pass it, they are viewed as sell outs and/or Uncle Toms.

Imagine if I say that this exam is unfair to your group, because your group cannot possible grasp the concepts tested, or are too lazy to learn them. Now, compare that to if I say that. What's the difference? Is there any?

And lastly, God forbid should anyone make a cartoon about this assertion.

Correction: Now, compare that to if I say that about my group.

What about children with learning disabilities in math or reading? Suppose they have dyslexia or ADD? Passing the exit exam doesn't mean they are ignorant at all, on the contrary, these kids work much harder than the average dolt and are more intelligent, yet may be unable to pass the exam under the (given) circumstances.

wendy wrote:

What about children with learning disabilities in math or reading? Suppose they have dyslexia or ADD? Passing the exit exam doesn't mean they are ignorant at all, on the contrary, these kids work much harder than the average dolt and are more intelligent, yet may be unable to pass the exam under the (given) circumstances.

We all know if a child has disability, or dyslexia, their "problem" is known way before they arrive in the 12th grade. For the most part, they'll never graduate the 12th grade anyway.

This exit exam is not for them, anyway.

But, let's assume they do, are you implying that the rest of the population suffer, because of the disabilities of a few...that the standard be lowered for everyone else?
Is this what you're proposing?

That's akin to leagalizing rape, then boasting about how the crime rate has dropped.

I really was trying to be nice as asked, but you obviously haven't a clue as to how an exit exam works for learning diasabled. To educate the common dolt. They ARE required to take the exit exam, without it being lowered at all. Most will pass at least math in the first try in 11th grade. After that it's touch and go and if unable to pass after the legal amount of tries then that's where their IEP, (for those dolts it's an individualized education program). Get your facts straight before spouting ignorance.

wendy wrote:

I really was trying to be nice as asked, but you obviously haven't a clue as to how an exit exam works for learning diasabled. To educate the common dolt. They ARE required to take the exit exam, without it being lowered at all. Most will pass at least math in the first try in 11th grade. After that it's touch and go and if unable to pass after the legal amount of tries then that's where their IEP,(for those dolts it's an individualized education program). Get your facts straight before spouting ignorance.

Why do you call the disabled "dolts"?
Now, the issue for these exit exams isn't for the disabled, but for minorities. So, please try not to migrate to some wild tangent. Once again, the "normal" exit exam program does not apply to the disabled.
So, stop spouting your ignorance.

wendy wrote:

What about children with learning disabilities in math or reading? Suppose they have dyslexia or ADD? Passing the exit exam doesn't mean they are ignorant at all, on the contrary, these kids work much harder than the average dolt and are more intelligent, yet may be unable to pass the exam under the (given) circumstances.

You’re making several unsubstantiated claims here, Wendy. To wit:

1) That lowering the bar to the point where those with learning problems can pass will be better for society as a whole. Competition breeds excellence; accommodation breeds mediocrity. These issues can be overcome with perseverance. Hell, my university biology prof was dyslexic.

2) These kids don’t necessarily work harder than other kids, if they’re content to fail. Those who want to pass have to work harder, but that doesn’t mean it’s an unreachable goal (see above).

3) The distribution of intelligence among kids with dyslexia or ADD is similar to the distribution for the general population. Being dyslexic doesn’t make you a savant.

wendy wrote:

I really was trying to be nice as asked, but you obviously haven't a clue as to how an exit exam works for learning diasabled. To educate the common dolt.

I’m not sure what you’re saying here. What, exactly, is a “common dolt”?

wendy wrote:

They ARE required to take the exit exam, without it being lowered at all. Most will pass at least math in the first try in 11th grade.

For most, math is the most difficult subject.

wendy wrote:

After that it's touch and go and if unable to pass after the legal amount of tries then that's where their IEP,(for those dolts it's an individualized education program). Get your facts straight before spouting ignorance.

Get your sentence structure right before pushing “Post Comment.” Your first sentence is incomplete and it’s hard to understand exactly what you’ve said. And do try not to come across us such a righteous, morally superior type—it only makes YOU look ignorant.