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Graduation policy passes with virtually no controversy

Posted by

Ben Munro

in News, Top Stories

Thursday, January 15. 2009

Comments (14)

The Madison County school board voted Tuesday to require that all high school students first pass all graduation tests before they can walk across the stage at graduation.

Though county schools superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee said this proposal was “not without controversy” when presented to the school board in December, the new requirement passed with virtually no turbulence.

The BOE heard no public comment over the matter, and the central office received just two responses against the policy in the past month.

McGhee also noted that the majority of teachers at the high school endorsed the new rule.

“The high school folks hope this will help our pass rate for the high school graduation test,” McGhee said, adding that there’s data to support an increase in scores.

A student who fails the graduation tests can take the exams indefinitely, but only the first attempt counts toward Madison County’s graduation rate.

Graduation rate is one of the criteria used to assess high schools under No Child Left Behind.

The new policy will take effect when this year’s sophomores are seniors.

The school system’s current policy allows those fulfilling all coursework but failing the graduation test to receive a certificate of participation at graduation, but no diploma.

Madison County isn’t the first opting to tighten requirements in that area.

Oglethorpe and Clarke Counties have already adopted this rule. Franklin County school leaders voted it in this year. Jackson County is considering it.

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#1 Anonymous on 01/15/09 at 03:13 PM [Reply]

Why should a kid walk if they aren't graduating? Just showing up isn't that big of an achievement.

#1.1 Anon on 01/15/09 at 07:15 PM [Reply]

It is a big deal when you go to school for 13 years and
pass all of your classes, but can't pass one test at the
end of it all, and that determines whether or not you
get to walk with the rest of your friends and classmates
you've grown up with.

#1.1.1 Anonymous on 01/16/09 at 08:44 AM [Reply]

It doesn't matter if you pass the classes or not. These classes may not have prepared you for the state standards for graduation. The state standard determines if the school is adequately doing its job. This isn't about having a warm fuzzy experience with your friends. It's about academic achievement pure and simple. This is a school, not a social club. So yes, an academic standard should determine whether or not you get to walk.

#1.1.1.1 Anon on 01/16/09 at 03:49 PM [Reply]

I said nothing about a warm and fuzzy experience. It comes
down to whether or not students get their diplomas based on
this ridiculous test. And no obviously the kids aren't
learning what they are supposed to or our county wouldn't
have such a high failure rate! I don't think it's
right that one test determines whether or not
we get our diplomas after we have made it through
thirteen long years. Honestly I don't care how much the
teachers get paid, they went to school for and got hired
to teach kids, and if they can't do that properly then
they should get a different job. Yes it has alot to do with
the county and the state but if were going to talk about
teachers salaries, well guess what I know tons of people
who are underpaid but they still do their job right! I know
somebodys going to say " It's the students job to learn and
take responsibility for their acedemics" Yeah it is but that
goes back to them learning the right material to even pass
the test in the first place!

#2 anonymous on 01/15/09 at 10:50 PM [Reply]

I hope all Madison County citizens remember this the next time their board member comes up for re election !!!!
Why do we have to be a follower of other counties ? I think all this testing is BULL (crap) !!!!!!
Let's get back to the real reason for school and make all the high paid teachers do their (dang) job.
If they would do their jobs we would not have to have all this extra testing !!!!!!!!
I know of some people that has went to school for 13 years that do not take test well and now after 13 years still does not have a diploma after taking this test 7 or 8 times this is all a bunch of Crap!!!!!!!

#2.1 Silence Dogood on 01/16/09 at 11:43 AM [Reply]

Anonymous,
You state 'Let's get back to the real reason for school and make high paid teachers do their...job.' In your opinion, what is the real reason for school? I hope your answer isn't 'to become educated' because based on your grammar in that last sentence I'd say you failed at that, too.
Also, if you knew about, and understood, the environment in which today's teachers work, you'd know that because of all the paperwork and lack of discipline that they have to deal with, they actually find it difficult to do their jobs themselves.
And finally, I don't know one teacher who would be considered 'highly paid' by anyone's standards.

#2.1.1 anonymous on 01/16/09 at 03:57 PM [Reply]

Yes, Same old CROCK and BULL paperwork and discipline but yet they bring home 70,000 to 100,000 a year tell me another one.
Do your job you get paid for and the parents would not have to do it for you after they have worked all day!!!!!!!!!
I'd say with your grammer you FAILED too!!!!!!!!!

#2.1.1.1 Silence Dogood on 01/20/09 at 12:01 PM [Reply]

Sigh.
1. The saying is 'cock and bull' not 'crock and bull.'
2. Please tell us how you came to think teachers make $70K-$100k per year.
3. "Do your job you get paid for and the parents would not have to do it for you after they have worked all day!!!!!!!!!" Again, perhaps you should visit a High School classroom and observe all the non-teaching related work teachers have to do each day. Also, if parents aren't willing to come home from work each day and help their kids out with school work, perhaps they should have thought twice about having kids in the first place. Parents are responsible for ushering their children into adulthood, not just providing them with TV and frozen dinners.
4. The correct spelling is 'grammar' not 'grammer'

I am not a teacher. I don't even work in a school. However, I graduated from Madison County High School, and I'm increasingly aware of the decreasing enthusiasm our students have regarding education. I know many families in Madison County who are content with just getting by. They aren't trying to better themselves and they certainly aren't trying to better their children. School systems can only do so much. Until parents become active participants in their children's educations we will only get more of the same. Perhaps passing a graduation test in order to graduate is just one more way school systems are trying to take on burdens ignored by parents.

#2.1.2 Sardonic Veracity on 01/16/09 at 05:26 PM [Reply]

"And finally, I don't know one teacher who would be considered 'highly paid' by anyone's standards. "

Especially not in Madison County!

#2.2 wake up people! on 01/16/09 at 03:12 PM [Reply]

Why am I not a bit surprised that this person knows people who have taken the test 7 or 8 times and failed!!!!!!!!!!

#2.2.1 anonymous on 01/16/09 at 04:03 PM [Reply]

Because you know people like this too!!!!
Just admit it!!!!!!!!!

#3 Teacher Too on 01/17/09 at 01:27 AM [Reply]

TeacherToo wrote:
There is a guy named Louis Pugliese running for the Los Angeles school board who seems to "get it" on a lot of issues- especially about dropouts. His video song is very clever and to the point- check it out at

www.lausd2009.com/song

Pass this on to your friends- maybe we can help him out.

#4 Joy on 01/21/09 at 03:23 PM [Reply]

My child is a senior this year and is having a hard time passing the graduation test. I do not think it is right for him to have to take the graduation test. If he passes all of his classes, then why shouldn't he be allowed to walk with his class? I do not want him to think that his academic journey has been unsuccessful just because he can not pass these tests. Some people do not test well, but that does not mean that they are not smart. It doesn't mean that they are unsuccessful. It just means that they are different. I am very proud of my son for staying in school, even though it has been very hard for him. He didn't quit and he is passing his classes and that is all that I can ask of him. I just think it is a little harsh to deny a student the opportunity to celebrate the acheivement of passing all of the regular classes.

#4.1 anonymous on 01/21/09 at 06:29 PM [Reply]

Yes,
You are so right some people don't take test well and it is a shame these kids go to school for 13 years and have to take a stupid test to graduate.
What kind of an example is this setting for our kids ? It basically is saying to them go to school play around and don't do your work but if you pass this test we will let you graduate. This is just what the kids that don't care want to hear and is very discouraging to kids that do care about their education!!!!
To me that is not an example that needs to be set. There is enough stress on our kids today just being kids much less all this testing that is forced on them. They need to get back to reading, writing, math and science.
They want to talk about the drop out rate WELL I hate to tell them but all this testing will cause the rate to increase.
I hope they are happy with the mess they have caused when this happens!!!!!!!!!!
Tell your son to hang in there and don't give up!!!!!!!!!

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