Shanker Raising the Bar

2

description

Former AFT president Al Shanker on increasing standards.

Transcript of Shanker Raising the Bar

  • AFTWhereWeStandMay141995RaisingtheBarPage1of2AFTHomeWhereWeStandAOUdAFT1999199819971996199519941993RaisingtheBarbyAFTPresidentAlbertShankerMay141995WheneverthereisapushtoraiseeducationalstandardswehearcriesfromtheoppositionWhatisthepointofraisingstandardswhensomanystudentscannotmeetthecurrentIowstandardsDoingthatislikeraisingthebaronthehighjumpto6feet8incheswhenmostofthecontestantscantevenclearthebarat6feetTheobjectionsoundsreasonablebutitswrongAfterANationAtRiskcameoutintheearly1980smanystatesstiffenedtherequirementsforhighschoolgraduationTheycalledformorescienceandmathandEnglishcoursesandtheyrefusedtoacceptsomeoftheoldsoftcoursesasfulfillmentofgraduationrequirementsCriticspredictedthatthesereformswouldcausestudentstodropoutindrovesbutthatdidnothappenStudentstookthenewandtoughercoursespassedthemandgottheirdiplomasasbeforeSomethingsimilarhappenedinthe1970sand1980swhenmorethanhalfthestatesstartedrequiringhighschoolstudentstopassminimumcompetencytestsinordertoreceiveahighschooldiplomaThesewerenottoughtestsMostofthereadingandmathtestswereata7thor8thgradelevelAndwhenthetestswereinstitutedhalfofthekidsabouttograduatehighschoolflunkedOpponentsofcompetencytestsalsopredictedthatraisingthebarwouldcauseabigincreaseinschooldropoutratesAfterallhowcouldstudentsbeexpectedtomeet7thor8thgradestandardswhensomeofthemcouldnotpass4thor5thgradetestsThesecriticsweresurprisedwhenwithinashorttimemoststatesreportedthat95percentoftheirstudentswerepassingthenewtestsNotonlywastherenoincreaseindropoutratesinmanystatestherewasadecreaseHowcanthisbeexplainedBeforethetoughergraduationrequirementsandtheminimumcompetencytestswereputintoplacestudentsknewthattheywouldgettheirdiplomaseveniftheydidnoworkAlltheyhadtodowasputintherequiredseattimeManyleftschoolbecausetheywerenotchallengedOthersstayedandlearnedwhattheyhadtonothingThecompetencytestslikethenewgraduationrequirementsintroducedthefactorofhighstakesStudentsrealizedthatiftheywerenotabletohttpwwwaftorgstandprevious1995051495html81001

  • AFTWhereWeStandMay141995RaisingtheBarPage2of2passthecoursesandtheteststherewouldbenodiplomaTheywantedthediplomabecausetheyknewthatwhilefutureemployersdonotrequiretranscriptsgradesorteacherrecommendationstheyareinterestedinwhetheraprospectiveemployeeisahighschoolgraduateoradropoutWhatdidthestudentsdoWhatanyonewhowantssomethingthatisoutofreachdoesTheyworkedforitFurthermoretheywerenolongerboredbysittingaroundwaitingtohavethediplomahandedtothemtheywerechallengedbytheworktheyhadtodotoearnoneHighstakesturnedouttobeagreatbenefittothesestudentsSofarIvegivenyouthegoodnewsNowcomesthebadnewsIfyouwerehelpingathletesimprovetheirjumpingandyougot95percentofthoseinyourchargetojump6feetwhatwouldyoudonextYouwouldraisethebaranotherinchorsoandwhenmostofthemwereregularlyjumpingatthatheightyoudraisethebaragainandyouwouldkeepongoingButnotintheworldofeducationSomestateshavehadminimumcompetencytestinginplacefortwentyyearsYouwouldexpectthatwhenagreatmajorityofstudentswereabletoachieveattheminimumcompetencylevelthestateswouldhaveintroducednewandtougherexamsexamsthatwouldsetthegraduationstandardatthe8thto9thgradelevelOrthatifthestatescontinuedusingthesame7thand8thgradeexamstheydrequirestudentstopassthemayearortwoearlierEventuallytheseexamsshouldhavebeengivenasarequirementtoenterhighschoolratherthantograduatefromitAndhighschoolseniorsshouldhavebeenrequiredtotakethekindsofexamsthatstudentsinotherindustrialnationsdoThatdidnothappenThestatesjustsatbackandtheyhavebeensatisfiedtohavethesameIowstandardstodaythattheyhadtwentyyearsagoThereisamoodinthecountrythatrejectseverythingthefederalgovernmentdoesandplacesgreatfaithinthestatesEducationisandhasbeenastateresponsibilityandthestateshavedonesomegoodthingsineducationButastheminimumcompetencyexamsshowusstatecontrolisnocureallStatesneedproddingfrombusinessoroutsidechallengesliketheoneprovidedbyANationAtRiskIfweareinterestedincorrectingwhatiswrongwithourschoolswedbetternotbesatisfiedwithjustleavingittothestatesAmericanFederationofTeachersAFLCIO555NewJerseyAveNWWashingtonDC20001CopyrightbytheAmericanFederationofTeachersAFLCIOAllrightsreservedPhotographsandillustrationsaswellastextcannotbeusedwithoutpermissionfromtheAFThttpwwwaftorgstandprevious1995051495html81001


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