Thursday, September 27, 2007

CASHY CAHSEE CASSIE

I recently read Kelly Yocum's Blog and responded to the controversy of High school exit exams. I mostly was against it, just because of my own experience with standardized tests and finding them often unfair for students who are more right-brain oriented. After responding to this post, I decided to do some research on the topic and see what all the talk was about. To my surprise, I found that California was one of the 26 states to have instated this High school exit exam. Not only was this surprise a fact, but so was this- the High school exit exam, administered in tenth grade, is equivalent to a SEVENTH GRADE education. AND if you fail this test in tenth grade, you get to retake it in eleventh and twelfth. Now, it seems obvious that the passing rate would be high then, right? Wrong! The passing rate in the LAUSD school system is 66%! In all of California, the passing rate was even lower, 22%. I was baffled by these numbers and completed dumbfounded as to how this could have happened. I can definitely see why this test is a necessity, because if you cannot pass a seventh grade test, then why should you be able to pass high school?

Where is all the taxpayers’ money going? New parking lots and gym facilities are obviously not raising grades. So, I decided to look even further into this. I found that charter schools are receiving much higher grades on their exams than the average public school. Also, the number of charter schools doubled in the past 4 years. I think that the conversion of public schools into charter schools is proving to be a good solution to children not having enough attention to succeed in school. Charter schools provide a safer, healthier environment for children to work in, and given a more “college prep” or “private school” environment for people who cannot afford private school.

Although this does go against most of my beliefs, I do think that more money should be given to Charter Schools. I believe that taxes for public schooling should be channeled more directly into Charter schools, because often they get scammed out of money because it goes originally through the district and they casually skim some revenue off the top. Public schools are proving to be ineffective and I believe that Charter schools are the best way to educate the general public in hopes of creating a more intellectual society. I am just thankful that I am in a economically secure household in which I can attend private school and receive the best education possible. Oh, and btw the High school entrance exam is called CAHSEE. Its pronounced like Casey but that’s pretty close to Cassie so I though that was pretty cool.

4 comments:

kellyjeanneyocum said...
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kellyjeanneyocum said...

cashyyyyy the research you did is very intriguing. and i don't think that this is unfair to students who don't do well on standardized tests, because that seems like a cop out. if you can't pass a seventh grade test than l you can't possibly call yourself a true high school graduate and expect a diploma. schools can't keep sending people that coasted through high school off to college and into the working world. This test is necessary in maintaining high educational standards.

Lea Lazaris said...

Cassie,
I found your blog very interesting, and I learned about something I had not known existed. To me, it does not seem unfair to the students who are not good standardized test-takers, and all people should have to take the test if their state requires it. I feel that the test is helpful in testing the standards of the school, and it also gives the students taking the test a heads up on what their level of knowledge is.

Rachel S said...

Cassie i really liked this blog because its more about what is happening in our lives rather than about some senator or something like that. I think it was really interesting when you mentioned, "The passing rate in the LAUSD school system is 66%! In all of California, the passing rate was even lower, 22%." I mean if the test is for seventh graders then how could so many people be failing it! I just don't get it. How could they be passing school every year if they are not as smart as a seventh grader. I also thought about China and how we have been talking about their tests that they give their students. Instead of letting them take it over and over again, they simply stop going to school if they don't pass the test.