Judge strikes down exit exam

Contra Costa Times ^ | 5/12/6 | Shirley Dang

[SmithL]

An Alameda County judge granted the wish of 47,000 high school seniors Friday after abolishing the exit exam as a graduation requirement this year.

Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman ruled that students who earn enough credits may receive a diploma, regardless of their performance on the test.

State Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell is expected to appeal the injunction immediately. The state will seek a reversal that would become effective before the end of the school year, according to a request for a stay on the decision filed today.

The decision deals a significant blow to the future of the exit exam, which faces three lawsuits in all. By granting a reprieve to this year's seniors, Freedman set the stage for similar decisions on any injunctions filed in successive years, essentially nullifying the law.

The Legislature approved the law creating the test, which measures sophomore English and middle-school math skills, in 1999. O'Connell wrote the legislation as a state senator with the intention of evening out differences in graduation standards among high schools statewide, thereby giving meaning to the diploma.

At last count, 89 percent of the state's seniors, or 390,000 out of 437,000, had passed. A remaining 47,000 seniors, not including special education students, have not.

[SmithL]

The teacher's union will be happy, this judge just reinforced California's institutionalized stupidity.

[Blueflag]

I am not gonna bother reading his ruling.

So I'll ask someone who has ... WHAT was his rationale?????

[RedBeaconNY]

Public education is a joke. What's the point?

[Gay State Conservative]

California was,after all,the birthplace of "if it feels good,do it".

[sunset212]

Thereby devaluing the diploma for all graduates.

[Semper Paratus]

Heard this on the radio. One of the complaints was that the English test discriminated against those who had poor English skills.

I can't take much more of this!

[al baby]

WHAT EVA HAPIN TO LIL BILLIE?

[PogySailor]

To raise a bunch of docile sheep that will vote Democrat and keep the enlightened in power.

[John Jorsett]

So I'll ask someone who has ... WHAT was his rationale?????

That poor students were not given the same resources and educational opportunities as richer ones, and they were therefore discriminated against.

What that overlooks is that the test is so dumbed-down (it's said to be at the level an 8th grader would ordinarily attain) that no matter how dismal your educational conditions, you should be able to pass it. Maybe your school didn't have a Nobel laureate teaching math like some school in Palo Alto, but even you, matriculating at a campus where the teachers are all drunks and time-servers, ought to be able to get through it.

[MissEdie]

I'm waiting for some parents to sue the State of South Carolina over their PACT test (given to 3-8 graders to gauge skill level, progress, etc), but not because of the discrepancy between schools from poor districts and wealthy ones. The State of SC in its' infinite wisdom decreed that children with severe learning disabilities and various degrees of mental retardation have to take this test and pass on grade level. That may not sound like much to most people, but try getting a child who has mental retardation and is just realizing the link between letters and sounds to read a passage written on a 3rd grade level and then answer questions about what they just read. Or requiring them to write a composition when they have just mastered the art of writing their names (first only).

[T.L.Sink]

From what I've read this is a dumbed-down exam which can be repeatedly taken and requires only a 50% passing score!

There will be two immediate consequences: (1) the diploma will be virtually worthless and mean nothing to prospective employers and (2) it will assure that these academic "fakers" will never succeed in the competitive jobs and employment marketplaces.

These people are apparently too obtuse to realize they're doing these pupils NO favor by eliminating all standards. I've also heard that this is another result of the illegal invasion that's swamping and bankrupting many school districts.

[trashcanbred]

So I'll ask someone who has ... WHAT was his rationale?????

The article did not say but from what I read at other sites the rationale was "All schools are not created equal...".

[mmyers]

My son is a sophmore and passed the exit exam last fall with 89%. it is not that tough, the parents need to get involved with there kids.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Democracy requires an educated populace -- apparently California courts disagree. When you combine this with the lies and disinformation propagated by the MSM; one has to wonder whether the U.S. will continue to be capable of self-determination.

{Flame away, I meant to be provocative -- just remember that, if the U.S. government doesn't get things right, the world is headed for the toilet.}

[rock58seg]

Honest Judges and courts will soon be abolished, inasmuch as they discriminate against the ethically impaired.
Ethically challenged Judges are safe since most of them belong to the Democrat Party.

[newzjunkey]

Bloody hell! This state needs to be taken out to the wood shed!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

(1) the diploma will be virtually worthless and mean nothing to prospective employers

It doesn't mean anything now. We only interview high school graduates. We give them a basic skills test. About one out of every five can not pass it.

[rock58seg]

Being the parent of two Mentally Handicapped children, as well as two "Gifted" children, "Mainlining", putting Mentally Handicapped children in regular classes, was/is a stupid "feel good" idea. The only useful classes, are the ones designed specifically to help them.

But, then I am so bigoted, I also believe in "Gifted and Talented" programs.

Homogeneity, Putting smart kids in one class, slower in another, is often self policing, since the grapevine tells the pupils which teachers are tough, and which are easy.

[Ivana Denisovich]

One of the complaints was that the English test discriminated against those who had poor English skills.

You've got to be kidding? Who in their right mind would take that seriously? (I know, the NEA, etc.) Geez.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Judge strikes down exit exam ...

...And helps expand the Democrat base.

[Ivana Denisovich]

... if the U.S. government doesn't get things right, the world is headed for the toilet.}

I'd say the U.S. will become a 3rd world nation, but the rest of the world will take up the slack. In 2000, 56% of China's undergraduate degrees were in the hard sciences; in the U.S., it was 17%. Japan, with half our population, has graduated double the number of engineers in recent years than we have.

And our educators - and judges - are more concerned about the low-end kids than they are about producing kids capable of taking the more difficult courses in college. Yup - we're headed into the toilet.

[Ivana Denisovich]

Public education is a joke.

Many private schools are no better, unfortunately. The teachers come from the same shallow end of the gene pool and education classes as the public school teachers. And the tuition money is sometimes more important than academics or discipline to their administration. With respect to private schools: Caveat Emptor.

[Centurion2000]

State Superintendent of Schools Jack O'Connell is expected to appeal the injunction immediately.

Just refuse to grant them diplomas and bar them from attendence at graduation then.

I cannot believe that americans can be this stupid. We put a man on the moon for God's sake and now this ??

[Amelia]

The teacher's union will be happy, this judge just reinforced California's institutionalized stupidity.

Although I don't belong to a union, I am a teacher, and I think this was an idiotic ruling.

If students can't master the basic skills required for a high school diploma, they shouldn't receive one.

[Hayzo]

'Heard this on the radio. One of the complaints was that the English test discriminated against those who had poor English skills.'

With English being a core subject, I guess poor English skills should not be a reflection of their academic competancy

[Amelia]

The State of SC in its' infinite wisdom decreed that children with severe learning disabilities and various degrees of mental retardation have to take this test and pass on grade level.

I think that is the Feds with NCLB, not just the state of SC.

[RedBeaconNY]

Uggghhh... I go to a public school right now, ranked in the top 50 nationwide according to Newsweek, and the crap that they allow to go on with in those walls is absurd. We have three administrators for a building of barely 1000 kids. That, and the taxes we pay are pretty near the cost of tuition at any of our local pariochal schools.

[devane617]

Another example how to erode the middle class. In a few years we will be just like Mexico in so many ways.

[RedBeaconNY]

Although I don't belong to a union, I am a teacher...

With all due respect, is such a thing even possible in today's day and age?

[Amelia]

Many private schools are no better, unfortunately. The teachers come from the same shallow end of the gene pool and education classes as the public school teachers. And the tuition money is sometimes more important than academics or discipline to their administration. With respect to private schools: Caveat Emptor.

You're right, but with one exception: some private schools hire teachers public schools won't take....which is sometimes because they have the knowledge but not the teaching credentials, but sometimes because they are too "low in the gene pool" to be accepted by public schools.

[Amelia]

With all due respect, is such a thing even possible in today's day and age?

It is in my state. I don't know about yours.

I do belong to a professional organization, because I teach lab classes & feel the need for professional liability insurance. I tried to get it through my homeowners but couldn't.

Most of the people I know who belong to the union joined not because they agree with the ideology of the NEA, but because it has the best professional liability insurance available. I had to settle for "second-best" because I cannot in good conscience support the NEA in any form or fashion.

[RedBeaconNY]

;) I live in New York.

[Ivana Denisovich]

Great tagline.

[Amelia]

;) I live in New York.

From your screen name, I thought you must. I know the teachers unions are much more powerful states such as NY, NJ, and PA. Membership may be required there, but I don't know that for a fact.

[Amelia]

Thanks! :-)

[napscoordinator]

The teacher's union will be happy, this judge just reinforced California's institutionalized stupidity.


Does this mean 47,000 kids will not graduate? This seems pretty excessive. I guess I would have them repeat if that is the rule, but talk about overcrowding. What happens if they fail next year with an additional 47,000 kids. This could just go crazy. I am not so concerned with this except the special ed kids...do they really have to pass a test and what will this prove for them? I mean are they alright to get a job? fuction? I guess I don't understand their perameters of what is special education.

[RedBeaconNY]

I can tell you, my teachers are very well paid. Union membership is optional, but you have to pay the dues regardless of if you're in the organization or not, supposedly because they're doing the work in your behalf and you're reaping the benefits, no matter if you want that help or not.

[Ivana Denisovich]

Although I don't belong to a union, I am a teacher...

With all due respect, is such a thing even possible in today's day and age?

In 1997, a federal judge ruled that a union cannot force teachers to join it in California. Teachers do have to pay the fees associated with the contracts negotiation, but have the right to not have any of their money go to the political ties the union has. Unfortunately, I don't think this is widely known.

[napscoordinator]

(1) the diploma will be virtually worthless and mean nothing to prospective employers


I don't think that is true. The reason is that when I was in school the state did not give me a test in order to get my diploma. Now I did have these Iowa Basic Test every year or so, but they did not decide if I graduate or not. I think the fact that every student has to pass the same test in the state in order to graduate is the problem. Don't these kids have regular exams. That is what we had a final exam in every class that resulted in if you graduated or not.

[Ivana Denisovich]

Although I don't belong to a union, I am a teacher...

I'm sorry, Amelia. My 'shallow end of the gene pool' comment didn't apply to you! I'm also a teacher (of sorts), and I see many, many incompetent teachers year after year. I was thinking of the probably 90% of the teachers that teach because they can't do anything else!

I forget that there are still some teachers out there like the ones I had (decades ago). God bless them and I wish we could go back to those times!

[Ivana Denisovich]

That is what we had a final exam in every class that resulted in if you graduated or not.

That's exactly what my family was discussing when we heard this ruling. If these 47,000 kids couldn't pass the exit exam (based on 10th grade english and 8th grade math), how were they able to pass any math high school courses? Or 11th and 12th grade English classes?

Therein lies the root of the problem. We wouldn't be needing exit exams or even state-wide testing if kids would be failed for not learning the material every year. And I'd bet that more and more would be learning it, if they knew there were actually consequences for them.

[CIB-173RDABN]

Just a reminder, over 50% of the yearly budget for the State of California is used for "education". We should have the best schools in the world. We don't.

The reason is simple. There is a disconnect between those paying the bill and those providing the service.

The reason for this is because the courts thought they knew better then the local community and started messing with the way schools are financed.

And now, we are at a point where many "graduate" without being able to read or write, and in the wisdom of the court the fix is to pretend it is not so.

Our judges have way too much power.

[Amelia]

I think the fact that every student has to pass the same test in the state in order to graduate is the problem. Don't these kids have regular exams. That is what we had a final exam in every class that resulted in if you graduated or not.

The problem is that what students learn can vary from school to school, or even from teacher to teacher within the same school. The statewide exams were instituted so that students, parents, and potential employers could be assured that someone with a high school diploma has at least basic skills.

I've had high school students who were reading and/or doing math at a third grade level or below, because they'd been socially promoted through the lower grades. Before these exams existed, they'd have been socially promoted right on out of high school, if they were nice kids, worked hard, and didn't cause trouble.

[Ivana Denisovich]

... the taxes we pay are pretty near the cost of tuition at any of our local pariochal schools.

Vouchers would be a good way to increase the standards in both public and private schools. Competition in the marketplace always helps. It just burns me - and others I know - be to paying tuition at a private school AND knowing part of our property taxes goes to the local school district.

the crap that they allow to go on with in those walls is absurd

Do you think it's any better at the private schools around you? I remember being pretty shocked at what was allowed at a Catholic private school. I think, in general, the society has fallen so far down that things that are seen as 'normal' today wouldn't have even been considered a couple of decades ago. Of course, some school administrators are more lenient than others...

[FreedomCalls]

Superior Court Judge Robert Freedman ruled that students who earn enough credits may receive a diploma, regardless of their performance on the test.

Can we throw out the state bar exam and grant attorney's licenses to all who simply have enough law school credits regardless of their performance on the bar exam? Huh Judge? What about that?

[Ivana Denisovich]

LOL! Good analogy.

And I'm sure I'd love to have surgery by a doctor who couldn't pass the medical specialty exams.

[Seaplaner]

An Alameda County judge granted the wish of 47,000 high school seniors Friday after abolishing the exit exam as a graduation requirement this year.

Thereby abolishing the lesson that hard work, personal achievement, and responsible behavior are worthy objectives that guide students along the path of success.

With the many, many horrible influences that children face nowadays, the notion that in order to succeed, they must take responsibility to master some (pathetically simple) elements of mathematics and English language is crucial.

It's a common theme, I'm afraid.

Achievers must be punished.

Karl Marx would be proud of this (alleged) judge.

[Amelia]

I can tell you, my teachers are very well paid. Union membership is optional, but you have to pay the dues regardless of if you're in the organization or not, supposedly because they're doing the work in your behalf and you're reaping the benefits, no matter if you want that help or not.

I've seen that teachers are well paid in NY. I don't think I'd want to teach in some of the schools there, particularly in NYC, but that's another topic. In some places, the cost of living is pretty high, too, isn't it?

A friend of my brother was teaching in NY, and was pretty disillusioned with the way some things were done. I'm not sure if it was his district or the entire state, but he said that students who were expelled from school had the right to a visiting home teacher so they could continue their education if they wished.

[Syncro]

I am not gonna bother reading his ruling.

Well at least you could read it. The Graduating class again doesn't have to read to graduate!