20% of California high school seniors can't pass junior high test
Posted Sun, Oct 2, 2005 at 8:33 pm
I wonder if the state of California could file a class action lawsuit against the federal government for their refusal to enforce our immigration laws, leading to the situation described in "20% of Seniors Flunk High School Graduation Exam".
Twenty percent of CA's HS seniors - about 100,000 people - have failed our graduation exam. Many of those seniors are illegal aliens, and their presence in the schools also reduces the resources available to the Americans who are flunking the exam.
And, that exam "is geared to an eighth-grade level in math and to ninth- and 10th-grade levels in English."
In other words, it's a junior high school or freshman/sophomore in high school level test, administered to highschool seniors, and one-fifth of them can't pass it.
California's superintendent of public instruction, Jack O'Connell doesn't want to diminish the worth of a HS diploma but taking those and other steps; I thought he was on the other side, so perhaps, as unlikely as it sounds, there's something the LAT isn't telling us.
The details of the exam get even worse:
And, since many of those who can't pass the exam are illegal aliens, and since those illegal aliens also have an impact on class sizes and other resources, he should do whatever he has to to make sure that the federal government does their job regarding illegal immigration.
Twenty percent of CA's HS seniors - about 100,000 people - have failed our graduation exam. Many of those seniors are illegal aliens, and their presence in the schools also reduces the resources available to the Americans who are flunking the exam.
And, that exam "is geared to an eighth-grade level in math and to ninth- and 10th-grade levels in English."
In other words, it's a junior high school or freshman/sophomore in high school level test, administered to highschool seniors, and one-fifth of them can't pass it.
But the report by the Virginia-based Human Resources Research Organization showed that tens of thousands of students, particularly those in special education and others who speak English as a second language, may fail the test by the end of their senior year despite remedial classes, after-school tutoring and other academic help...Perhaps a portfolio of their basket-weaving work.
... Among its findings: 63% of African Americans and 68% of Latinos in the class of 2006 have passed both parts of the exam.
By comparison, 89% of Asians and 90% of whites have passed. The report recommended that the state keep the exam but consider several alternatives for students who can't pass.
"Clearly, we need to have some options for these students," said Lauress L. Wise, the firm's president, in a telephone interview with reporters.
The state, for example, could allow seniors to submit portfolios of work that demonstrate mastery of English and math, the report's authors suggested.
California's superintendent of public instruction, Jack O'Connell doesn't want to diminish the worth of a HS diploma but taking those and other steps; I thought he was on the other side, so perhaps, as unlikely as it sounds, there's something the LAT isn't telling us.
The details of the exam get even worse:
Students get several opportunities to pass the exam in high school, and they have to correctly answer only a little more than half of the questions to succeed.As you might expect, the socialists in Sacramento have jumped into the breach, passing legislation that would allow the portfolio of work to be used in place of the exam. Arnold has not announced if he intends to veto it, but he should.
And, since many of those who can't pass the exam are illegal aliens, and since those illegal aliens also have an impact on class sizes and other resources, he should do whatever he has to to make sure that the federal government does their job regarding illegal immigration.
Comments
reason (not verified)
Tue, 10/04/2005 - 20:23
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Are a large number of those Hispanic students here illegally? Is the world round? Is the Pope German?
The US already had a massive underclass before the current era of mass illegal immigration;now we are importing a new underclass. This does nothing to enhance US competitiveness, it only increases the supply of low-skill cheap labor which has the effect of retarding technological innovation in sectors like agriculture and construction. This does not apply to all immigrants but it does apply to a disproportionately large number of illegal immigrants.For a helpful link:
http://www.parapundit.com/archives/003014.html#003014
Ryan A (not verified)
Tue, 10/04/2005 - 16:29
Permalink
Great logic. I always love the old blame it all on the immigrants solution.
Many of those seniors are illegal aliens, and their presence in the schools also reduces the resources available to the Americans who are flunking the exam...
How many are illegal, and what are your sources for this information? You're making the claim, basically, that the presence of illegal immigrants is causing Americans to flunk. Again, what makes you come to this conclusion?
I wonder if the state of California could file a class action lawsuit against the federal government for their refusal to enforce our immigration laws...
Actually have you ever heard of Plyler vs. Doe 1982? Basically under that supreme court decision, those students are supposed to be taught by public schools. I'm not coming down on any one side, but thats the letter of the law here.
And, since many of those who can't pass the exam are illegal aliens, and since those illegal aliens also have an impact on class sizes and other resources, he should do whatever he has to to make sure that the federal government does their job regarding illegal immigration...
Again, how many are illegal? You havent shown any correlation between illegal immigrants and their impacts...you are just making vague claims here. It may be that many students are "Latino", but what percentage of those are illegal? And what is the impact that you are talking about, do you actually have any data or support for this claim, or is this your conjecture?
Your logic is weak here overall. Basically, too many students are flunking the standardized tests, and you're trying to blame it on illegal immigrants, without any proof, data, or evidence beside your vague claims. Not very convincing. Maybe there are some other factors involved?