Comments on Cal Teacher Blog: 100: Diplomas Matter?

You already know the answer to the question when y...

2006-05-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

You already know the answer to the question when you ask "Do diplomas mean anything?" I just don't think you like the answer.

We know why diplomas are meaningless today. Our entitlement culture, combined with a change in teacher attitudes from the 70s to now (more touchy-feely, more counselor-y), won't let anyone fail.

It used to be expected that students would do their work and learn the material. Of course, it also used to be expected that teachers taught some material to be learned. If California's teachers are teaching to the standards (and in many cases that's a big *if*), the students need to do their part.

And any senior (absent major learning difficulties) who can't pass an at-most-10th-grade English test with 60% and an at-most-8th-grade-Algebra-I math test at 55% hasn't put forth enough effort in school to earn a diploma.

I am a 55-year-old high school social studies teac...

2006-05-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

I am a 55-year-old high school social studies teacher from Minnesota. I say that because I'm finding that our different perspectives cause a lot of our disagreements. First of all, I'm tired of hearing about employers complaining that we aren't adequately preparing people for the workforce. We've been hearing that since before "Nation at Risk" was published in 1983. That's 23 years ago! If we've been doing this miserable job of preparing people for the workforce for 25, 30, or even 35 years, how does our economy manage to keep humming along? Why do I keep hearing that our military is the best educated and the best trained in the world?

I have a slight disagreement with Anonymous. I don't think anyone who's read my posts or comments would say I'm a bleeding heart, but I believe that every student who makes an honest effort should be able to be successful in school. If he or she isn't successful, then I think we've got to do one of two things: we've got to take a look at changing what we're doing in the classes in which that student can't succeed, or we need to develop different classes and programs so that student can be successful. (I'm in favor of "basic" classes, but that's an issue by itself.) I want to emphasize that I'm talking about students who really try. If they don't make an effort, I've got no sympathy for them.

Since I'm from Minnesota, anything I say about what California is doing has to be taken with a grain of salt, but once again, I think it boils down to effort. It sounds like California is working hard to prepare those kids so they can make it through those tests, but if kids are really trying and not making it, then I think the system is flawed. On the other hand, if kids aren't passing because they're making a poor effort--too bad!

Why does the State/Feds/Business World feel they n...

2006-05-19T20:26:00.000-07:00

Why does the State/Feds/Business World feel they need this test if our students have met all other requirements? I assume because our grades are not standards based, but fairly subjective. For example, there are differences in how each teacher grades, the criteria they use etc. There have not been common grading practices. We have not agreed upon a common level of performance. In fact we do not grade solely on performance, but use other factors as well. Some are great factors and some, like effort, are limited. Effort is awesom. We could use more. But effort and real achievement do not equate. Bottom line is that historically a few kids have been graduating without being able to read, write and do math to a level they can survive out there. Remember the level of these abilities is much higher now than it has been due to the nature of the employment market. Most of the manual labor where literacy is not an issue are now overseas. Heck much of the skilled market labor is overseas as well.