Monday, May 22nd 2006
A Different Exit Exam
About a week ago, the courts struck down the use of a high school exit exam in California. Supporters of the exam argued that high school graduates need a certain level of proficiency in basic subjects, while opponents argued that the exam discriminates against low income and immigrant students. The ruling is currently being appealed.
In today’s Chronicle, Anne Dilenschneider of Half Moon Bay gives us the following letter:
I work as a counselor in a community rehabilitation and residential treatment program for people who are working through acute psychiatric crises.
Last week, in a group I lead there on current events, we discussed the pros and cons of the high-school exit exam. After some discussion, the 16 residents came up with the questions they would like to see on a high school “exit exam”:
1) Can you change a tire?2) Can you change your oil?
No and no. I’ll let the pros handle that.
3) Can you balance your checkbook?
4) Can you use public transit?
I suppose, if I must, on both counts. I honestly never used the bus or other public transportation until I started college.
5) Are you willing to ask for help — and do you know how to access social services?
Not really. Note how the question isn’t “Do you know how to get a job?”
And — this one was their first suggestion, and my personal favorite –
6) Are you a compassionate person?
Now that’s a bit subjective. I thought I was graduating high school, not competing to be Miss America.
So I guess I fail Ms. Dilenschneider’s exit exam. Woe is me. At least I know Calculus.
You’ll never be Miss America with that attitude.
Comment by cw — 5/22/2006 @ 10:56 pm
You are an asshole Patrick
Comment by what — 5/23/2006 @ 1:37 am
According to their rationale, the British Commonwealth middle school PSLE, high school GCE ‘O’ and junior college ‘A’ levels would be as unjust as students have to EARN the diplomas.
With regards to California, this is what a culture of “entitlement” ultimately leads to. NEWS FLASH! You do not “deserve” a high school diploma–you EARN one. If this passes, eventually the high school diploma will be worthless because it is no guarantee of the individual’s skills he/she ought to have mastered in high school.
Prediction: with large numbers of high school graduates unemployable, the next step would be to create a welfare state (e.g. Louisiana). The local population will then be held hostage to liberal politicians’ agendas in order to continue receiving welfare assistance and social programs.
Until I arrived in California, I have never encountered such destructive culture / agenda as that possessed by California liberals’: one that rewards mediocrity and cultivates an expectation of undeserved–and unearned–entitlement.
Comment by -ben — 5/23/2006 @ 10:59 am
i wouldnt argue that the test “discriminates against low income and immigrant students” it implies that they are incapable of passing the test. yet, as i have seen for myself, some schools are not meeting the minimum required curriculum needed to pass this test. in my town, pittsburg, the majority of our schools have been taken over by the state due to low test scores and failure to meet the standards of the curriculum[my mother never let me attend pitt school…thank goodness]. this is going on in oakland, los angeles, ect. thus if the state finds itself taking over schools because they fail to meet the curriculum, then how can they implement an exit exam when quite number of schools are not implementing the curriculum needed to pass it? until all schools are doing so, then they shouldn’t implement the test.
and the test is quite basic, the fact that we cant implement the test is a damn shame, a pretty damn shame!!!! californians should be outraged, embarrassed!!! arent yall tired of out of state students talking shit?? “oh thats a californian education for ya”? but it takes more than a bureaucratic gov to fix it. on top of some crappy schools [not all, many are state of the art] we have parents and voters who have failed to hold these schools, politicians, and school board accountable [yes its the parents job to be proactive in education-the school is not babysitter]and a youth culture that doesnt value education. it takes more than gov to fix this.
it drives me nuts to see the comercials with the universal preschool “oh it will make our kids smarter” not if they go to crappy schools with retrograde curriculums!!!!! hello!!!! it completely missess the point, that money would be better off upgrading and improving the crappy schools those preschoolers will end up going to.
i suggest that the patriot starts a discussion on the crisis of cali school system, solutions, and stuff. its very interesting…..
Comment by Danielle — 5/23/2006 @ 9:39 pm
X+3=7, solve for X (the CA high school exit exam)
Racist! how dare they?!
rich people from Beverly Hills are able to buy the answers to questions like that. everyone knows that. but change my oil, priceless.
because there are some things money cant buy …
Comment by Ben Chapman — 5/23/2006 @ 9:59 pm
Ms. Dilenschneider represents one of the gravest threats to America, she personifies the race to the lowest common denominator.
Comment by dk — 5/24/2006 @ 1:04 am
There has to be a better way to improve educatio than sticking another exam at the end of high school. However these questions could be part of a very useful class called “Living on your own” :).
Comment by Damon Z — 5/25/2006 @ 5:32 pm
Of course the big difference between an exit exam and the Commonwealth A level system is that the exit exam comes in addition to the curriculum learnt in school and the A level tests make up the curriculum itself.
Comment by dan — 5/26/2006 @ 12:41 am