RI turnto10.com: Controversial diploma plan moves forward

RI turnto10.com: Controversial diploma plan moves forward


The proposal would require students to score "partially proficient" on a standardized test in 11^th grade.  If they don’t, they would get extra help and take the test again during their senior year. 

At that time, the student would need to show sufficient improvement to graduate. The plan would also create a three-tiered diploma system.

Critics argue that the testing is biased in favor of students in wealthier communities and that most students in poorer communities would not graduate under the proposed system.

Under the Constitution and most state law, government has a responsibility to "promote the general welfare."  Many communities troubled by failing school systems have turned to standardized testing as a way of objectively measuring school performance.  Such testing is oftentimes controversial with frequent complaints about teaching to the test or bias toward wealthy communities.  Such criticisms strike Common Sense as both disingenuous and silly. 

Consider first the complaint of "teaching to the test."  What exactly is wrong with teaching to an objective measure of minimum knowledge?  Is it wrong to require a certain proficiency in reading, math, understanding writing, or history?  Common Sense argues no, it's not.  When students leave school they will have to live in the real world where such skills determine their ability to succeed.

While it is doubtless true that testing results are better in wealthy communities is that a problem?  Should we not test because wealthy schools do well?  Should we not test because such communities have a culture that promotes education?  Common Sense argues no. 

Both these criticisms fail an objective notion of the purpose of public education in Common Sense's view.  Consider that the purpose of  school is to produce an educated citizen able to function in today's society.  Failing that, school has little purpose or claim on the public purse.  Testing tells us how schools are performing.  It identifies schools and communities that need help.  That many public schools fail such test clearly demonstrates that they need to improve or, in extreme cases, be replaced by schools that can educate.  Failing that schools and the governments that run them fail both their citizens and the larger city, state, and nation in that they simply babysit young people and release them to largely fail.  It is not enough to warehouse future citizens who are unable to succeed in today's society.

Just a bit of Common Sense.