High School Exit Exam Research Paper
Karen Robey
Kathleen Walton
English 102
May 12, 2010
High School Exit Exams
There has been a concern for some time throughout America regarding the quality of our public education. It seems the majority of students are graduating from high school without understanding the basics of the three R’s: reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic. Today, the focus of education has moved to measuring what students can do by requiring them to pass a standardized test before they can receive a diploma. As a result, many students are being denied their high school diplomas because they are failing to pass these state mandated exit exams. In 1999, Gray Davis ran for governor of California on an “educational accountability platform”, and won (caljustice.org). …show more content…
Supporters believe the exit exam will give the diploma meaning. They want students to feel they have earned their diploma instead of just receiving it for their time spent in school. They also believe that by passing the exit exam, students will have the knowledge and skills to be successful in future academic careers, in a job, and in life. Jack Jennings, the director of the non-profit public education advocacy organization Center on Education stated, “It (high school exit exam) brings us into line with most other industrialized countries and it will cause great changes in high school curriculum. In effect, it’s the backdoor way to reform high school” (Olson, 2002). Even though the majority of students have been failing the exit exam, supporters believe this was a move in the right direction because it has helped public schools focus on academic standards. To prepare for the upcoming educational changes, Algebra is now being encouraged to be taken by eighth graders so they can catch up to those in high performing foreign countries (Olson, …show more content…
However, since the exit exam has already been implemented, the government, educators, and the public are now aware there is a serious problem with California’s educational system, which, in turn, could lead to a reconstruction on education. As Fair Test Public Educator director observes, “Believing that you can improve schooling with more tests is like believing you can make yourself grow taller by measuring your height”. All students have the ability to learn and succeed, but not on the same day or in the same way; therefore, they should not be given the same exam at the same time in their academic
Kathleen Walton
English 102
May 12, 2010
High School Exit Exams
There has been a concern for some time throughout America regarding the quality of our public education. It seems the majority of students are graduating from high school without understanding the basics of the three R’s: reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic. Today, the focus of education has moved to measuring what students can do by requiring them to pass a standardized test before they can receive a diploma. As a result, many students are being denied their high school diplomas because they are failing to pass these state mandated exit exams. In 1999, Gray Davis ran for governor of California on an “educational accountability platform”, and won (caljustice.org). …show more content…
Supporters believe the exit exam will give the diploma meaning. They want students to feel they have earned their diploma instead of just receiving it for their time spent in school. They also believe that by passing the exit exam, students will have the knowledge and skills to be successful in future academic careers, in a job, and in life. Jack Jennings, the director of the non-profit public education advocacy organization Center on Education stated, “It (high school exit exam) brings us into line with most other industrialized countries and it will cause great changes in high school curriculum. In effect, it’s the backdoor way to reform high school” (Olson, 2002). Even though the majority of students have been failing the exit exam, supporters believe this was a move in the right direction because it has helped public schools focus on academic standards. To prepare for the upcoming educational changes, Algebra is now being encouraged to be taken by eighth graders so they can catch up to those in high performing foreign countries (Olson, …show more content…
However, since the exit exam has already been implemented, the government, educators, and the public are now aware there is a serious problem with California’s educational system, which, in turn, could lead to a reconstruction on education. As Fair Test Public Educator director observes, “Believing that you can improve schooling with more tests is like believing you can make yourself grow taller by measuring your height”. All students have the ability to learn and succeed, but not on the same day or in the same way; therefore, they should not be given the same exam at the same time in their academic