High School Graduation - what does it mean?

Georgia has high school graduation requirements that have changed 4 times since I started teaching. The class of 2014 has 5 graduation tests to pass (math, English language arts, science, social studies, and writing). The class of 2015 only has to pass writing.

Math and social studies vie for the highest failure rates, for very different reasons. Social studies is memorization - math, well, is math.

Several years ago the rules were modified to allow one of the end of course tests to substitute for the grad tests. So if you passed the 9th grade or 11th grade English end of course test, you were considered to have passed the grad test in English.

There are 2 end of course tests in each main discipline (math, English, science, social studies) which you take once and which account for 20% of your grade. (OK, if you fail the course, you retake the end of course test). And you can take the grad test in March of your Junior year, July before Senior year, September and November and March of your Senior year. So 7 opportunities to pass the 4 main graduation tests, 5 to pass writing.

Approximately 1 in 5 of this senior class was missing one or more of the graduation tests when we got to graduation.

Some of the parents took this even less well than normal (since the rule about the tests changes next year) and - after pitching fits with counselors, principals and at the district offices, several decided to host an alternative "graduation" for those people who who just need the grad test to graduate.

I have a problem with this. There is a minimum bar for graduation. I already feel like we lower it constantly, and now we have a feel good graduation ceremony that doesn't mean anything.

And - in looking at the program someone brought me, I realize that two of the people who participated had passed all of the graduation tests. They didn't pass the courses.

They didn't even meet the minimum for THIS graduation.

Six word Saturday

Last week: Love those last minute parent phonecalls.
This week: and no return call: even better.


For more Six Word Saturday participants, click here.

Six Word Saturday

Love those last minute parent phonecalls.


For more Six Word Saturday participants, click here.

Important lesson (for all of us): don't burn bridges you may need someday.

Ewwww

I was straightening up the chairs today and there was a pile of paper. Picked it up, revealing a condom, not in a wrapper and (I think) not used (didn't check real closely).

Seriously? You've never heard of a trashcan?

To say nothing about how inappropriate this is in class anyway.

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I'm nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I'm wounded
You, pickin' on the weaker man

You can take me down
With just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

You, with your switching sides and your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You've pointed out my flaws again as if I don't already see them
I'll walk with my head down trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

I'll bet you got pushed around, somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now 'cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know what you don't know

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

And I can see you years from now in a bar, talking over a football game
With that same big loud opinion but nobody's listening
Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing

But all you are is mean

All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever gonna be is mean, yeah
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Someday, I'll be, living in a big ol' city
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
(Why you gotta be so mean?)
And all you're ever gonna be is mean

Why you gotta be so mean?

Six Word Saturday

You provide me with teachable moments.


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There is always something positive that you can say about someone. Being a great bad example may be it, but it is still a positive attribute. Negative exemplars work also.

Educational statistics: or how to meaningfully compare apples and bicycles.

We are supposed to give a test in the fall (before we teach the material) and give the same test again in the spring - and then see how much the students have grown. You know, this would show how "effective" the teacher is.

The teachers are not to see the tests (so we cannot teach to the test) (or adequately prepare the students to pass the test).

The test counts as 20% of their grade.

This week we found out the test we will give next week is not exactly the same as the one we gave in the fall. Actually, it is 75% longer than the one in the fall.

Yep, those statistics will be meaningful.

Love being told what to do by a student

They don't understand that cheating is not just taking answers but giving answers.

They don't understand that swapping information with A so that you can help B copy answers is cheating.

They don't understand that it isn't up to them to decide who I choose to punish.

But mostly, they don't understand that they are cheating themselves from learning the math - they aren't cheating me.

So great when the cheater thinks he can dictate how I will grade the assignment.

six word saturday

Separating the Wheat from the Chaff


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I know there are ways I can improve. Very few of us can look in the mirror and state "Nope, this is as good as it gets." I also know I work hard every day to help my students learn and grow. Some years it is easier than others. I have one class which baffles me. Last year I had a class where three individuals ran havoc over me and everyone else in the classroom. If I tried to talk over them, they would talk louder. I finally just worked at getting them written up and out so I could teach the rest. This year, similar kids. Sort of. One will announce he has worked as hard as he intends to and then, like the Pied Piper, lures everyone else away. Three others do little to nothing. Their mothers will call about once a week to see how their child can make up an assignment that was a daily one - nope, not playing that game. Others come just often enough to keep their name on the books. Several come to half the classes during the week - several come just often enough they are not dropped from the roll. Is it a surprise that half the class is failing?