Class of ‘11: No pass, no walk

Class of ‘11: No pass, no walk

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Wednesday, January 27. 2010

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The board of education plans to change its policy to stop allowing students who do not pass the Georgia High School Graduation Test to walk in commencement ceremonies. The only question is when the change will take place.

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#1 the truth on 01/27/10 at 06:23 AM

why should someone walk if they did'nt pass anyway? i never understood that one.reward failure?thats what wrong with this country now!

#1.1 keisha on 01/27/10 at 08:00 AM

who asked for your opinion anyways???

#1.1.1 facts (verify the truth) on 01/27/10 at 08:33 AM

Since this is a blog and it is a forum to express your opinion, I would say the the Herald Gazette asked for the truth's opinion.

#2 cats on 01/27/10 at 06:40 AM

This policy is long overdue.
Really, how fair is it to the kids who have worked hard, or the kids who have just worked period, to share the walk with the kids who couldn't be bothered....

#3 Stronger Academics on 01/27/10 at 07:15 AM

I loved Mr. Austin's quote in my paper. "I don't want to pat a kid on the back for failing."

#4 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 07:36 AM

Exactly whos failure is it?

#4.1 Anon E. Moose on 01/27/10 at 08:40 AM

It would be the students' failure. I'll bet that a good bit of them are popular athletes that could care less about education. They'll get through college on brawn not brains, get a career that is deserved only by the tutor who did all of they're work, and come out more successful than those of us who actually try. So I say DO NOT let them walk.

#4.1.1 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 10:22 AM

I disagree most sports team have a grade standard to pass and college has standards also, dont throw the kids that play sports into one catagory, but the lazy kids who EXPECT something for no work are the ones who you need to look at

#4.2 Sheila Tolley on 01/27/10 at 11:15 AM

That would be the person whose name was on all the report cards. Duh?

#5 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 07:56 AM

its not like they failed the grade they didnt pass a test.some kids just arent good test takers.i say bad vote

#5.1 MINICoop on 01/27/10 at 08:31 AM

yeah...they didn't fail the grade, they just failed High School. I say good vote.

#5.2 no pass, no walk on 01/27/10 at 08:39 AM

It's not like the students only get one shot at the test. They have at least 3 or 4 chances before graduation and multiple times after as well. I think the high school even has programs to try and tutor these students so they can pass. You make it sound as if the poor kid failed one time and are cast out of society.

Furthermore, if a kid does not pass the test, I don't think they are eligible for graduation. If they are not eligible to graduate, why let then be a part of the grdauation ceremony? That's the same as letting Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa into the Hall of Fame. They didn't earn, they shouldn't get in.

#5.2.1 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 01:32 PM

I don't understand why anyone feel that you need to pass four test in order to graduate. The thought is ludicrous, because every person is different. There are people who get nervous when they have to take a test and don't do well, and some who can take a test after looking in the book once. If the test is going to decide your faith in school and you might as well skip school and just go take the test.

#5.3 Sheila Tolley on 01/27/10 at 11:17 AM

School and life are full of tests. Study hard and party later.

#5.3.1 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 01:39 PM

Its not always about the party and if the school system or whoever communicated with the students who have issues with testing just maybe the problem could be solved. I just love how one or two people feel they have the answer to everything, but guest what you don't.

#6 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 08:29 AM

They get more than one opportunity to pass the test. Maybe if more parents were involved in their children's education, we would see the test scores rise. I went to a large high school and we had the policy. Sure it might not be "fair", but guess what....life isn't fair. You cannot go through life thinking that you will be rewarded for doing nothing.

#7 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 08:35 AM

have any of you commenting actually taken this test.i have. the year i graduated if im not mistaken was the first or second year they implemented it.dont get me wrong i wasnt the best student but i did well in my classes and that test was still hard to me. i worried the whole time i was taking it that i wasnt going to pass. this test can be overwhelming to kids because of the topic at hand;they wont be able to walk and when i was in school you didnt pass if you didnt ace the test.thats scary to a kid.arent finals enough without having to deal with the ghsgt.

#7.1 MINICoop on 01/27/10 at 08:41 AM

I took it in 2001...graduated with distinction. It's not impossible.

#7.1.1 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 12:51 PM

I took mine in 2001. Well atleast i graduated in 2001. I cant remember if we took them at the end of 2000 or first part of 2001.

#7.2 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 09:28 AM

This test is not hard at all. I took it and passed it the first time. Sure it was stressful, but isnt that all part of life? I agree that if you can't pass this test you don't walk. Seriously, if you can't pass this test you probably can't pay attention enough during the graduation practice ceremonies, and will end up messing that up anyways.

#8 Ridi on 01/27/10 at 10:09 AM

If you fail your driving test, do you get a license? If you fail your drug test, do you get the job? Granted, the test may be hard, but given several chances to take it, and the option of tutoring, I say its a great rule. kids, listen up: WORK hard and EARN your reward!!

#9 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 10:45 AM

I agree that if a student has not passed, he should not walk. HOWEVER, I DO NOT agree that in EVERY case it is the student's failure. You can’t put all of that on a child's shoulders. Some of these children have been slipping through cracks in the system for a long time and are then magically expected to make mature decisions overnight. They probably lost faith in the system long ago when it first failed them.

There are more people responsible and it is a COLLECTIVE FAILURE if a child does not graduate. This system is not exactly the best school system around. Take a look at the sheriff’s report and see how many of our local young adults resort to crime.

There are ways schools can still manage to succeed given many obstacles..
http://www.hepg.org/hep/book/65/ItSBeingDone

#10 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 10:55 AM

In instances where the student has repeatedly failed to pass the test by graduation day, both the student and their parents should be summarily executed by firing squad. Every teacher the student had, throughout the student's entire academic career, should be fired and publicly flogged (50 lashes minimum). Quit making excuses people.

#10.1 Bookworm on 01/29/10 at 12:50 PM

This is in response to putting failing students in front of a firing squad. Some kids are just dumb. Oh, excuse me. They're not called that anymore.

#11 i call B.S. on 01/27/10 at 10:57 AM

I personally think that the GHSGT is complete bullshat to begin with, I mean you go to school for 13 years, and in the end it comes down to you passing one series of test to determine whether you graduate or not. If that's the case, then why not prepare students their entire school career for JUST the material on these test? Exactly! It's pointless!

Personally I've taken theses test, more than once, and i eventually passed all of them. I was a good student, I studied, I did my school work, but I just seem to do worse on test than I am at school work. There has been proven research, & a lot of students are this way.
The point is, there is more to school and graduating than one test can determine. Every grade you have to take finals before advancing to the next grade,it comes down to your overall schoolwork of the year, plus the results of your finals whether or not you advance to the next grade, but your senior year they come up with the brilliant idea to add in the GHSGT, which doesn't affect your grade, just whether or not you pass.

COMPLETE BULLSH@TTTTT!!!

#11.1 lizzybegood on 01/27/10 at 01:29 PM

I think it's about time they implemented that. The GHSGT is not that hard. A kid in middle school could probably pass the test.

The hardest portion is probably the science portion and even that is not that hard. If after repeated attempts a student can not pass that test, then they definitely shouldn't be allowed to "walk" , because they did NOT satisfy the criteria to graduate.

If it's so hard to pass a test --- get a GED -- oops I forgot you have to take a test to receive one of those. Life is full of tests get over it. The American education system is crap. Try going to Japan or S.Korea and then complain about having to "take a test".

#12 Sheila Tolley on 01/27/10 at 11:29 AM

So fix the cracks and fire the teachers that let them slide by. I don't care if they grow a beard in the third grade, they should not pass without earning the grade. More than once, I opened my report card real slow. I was smart enough to know when I had better behave and buckle down. Quit blaming parents. The line is the same for all students. A=, B=, C=. You are running a twelve year race. You do not catch up in the 12th grade. You earn that walk. The only walk that is given to you is the one with handcuffs on as you walk into jail. So be smart enough not to fall in one of those cracks. If a teacher is uncaring enough to pass you without adequate grades, I hope your parents are caring enough to say "Hell No."

#13 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 11:56 AM

amen #11.

#14 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 12:50 PM

you can BS your way through school. That doesnt mean crap. I did it some and i have family now that cant spell or hardly talk but made it to 11th grade. I did what i had to do to get through school. I passed all of my tests required to graduate. There are ways to get around the system in school but you cant beat the system with the GHSGT.

#15 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 01:48 PM

yes there are ways to get around the system. the teachers i had in school didnt act like they gave a diddly squat about the work that was being done. yes there were a few that cared but not many.lamar county high was far to lenient in grades 9 10 and 11 and then in 12 it was like a totally different ballgame because you are told you have to pass that stupid test to graduate and not have been prepared for it in the years past because of lazy teachers.to me the only teachers that cared about their students were the advanced class teachers. the "technical" classes were awful.the kids ran all over the teachers and most of the time spent the class doing whatever they wanted

#16 the dang truth on 01/27/10 at 02:03 PM

AMEN #11!!!

and by the way, if the school board cared about students the way they do some of their outrageous codes of conduct, the school halls would be full of baby einsteins!

#17 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 03:12 PM

The kids need to learn that in the real world things aren't just handed to you, you have to earn them. Maybe this is the incentive they need. Once they realize that if they don't pass the test, they won't be able to walk with their friends, then maybe just maybe they will put forth more effort and study harder. Bravo to the school board on this decision.

#18 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 05:38 PM

Better the kids learn now than later. Out in the real world if you fail the test, you'll still get to walk. You'll just be walking out the door. Why? Because there is always somebody behind you that apparently wants it more than you.

I'm not good at taking test just won't cut it. The answer is, you better get good before having to perform.

#19 Anonymous on 01/27/10 at 06:31 PM

I have had four kids take and pass the GHSGT on the first try. It is not impossible. It irritated the mess out of me to see students "graduate" who did not pass the graduation test. Especially given the fact that a lot of parents and family members who were whooping and hollering and acting like idiots during the ceremony were there for the faux grads. Pisses me off to think about it and my kids are all graduated and on in college!

#20 Sheila Tolley on 01/28/10 at 01:27 PM

I stink!

#20.1 Sheila Tolley on 01/28/10 at 01:51 PM

Use your own name or the typical Anonymous when you write idiotic comments. Everyone knows #20 did not come from a writer with my intelligence. You dummy!

#20.1.1 Anonymous on 01/29/10 at 09:55 AM

intelligence is relative..

#20.1.2 Anonymous on 01/29/10 at 11:19 AM

How do we know you don't stink?

#20.1.2.1 Sheila Tolley on 01/29/10 at 12:10 PM

I took a survey. They said I did not stink. They are pushing a new Lysol spray now.......

"Have you noticed how bad unknown smells can be.
They come from everywhere, to torture you and me. They are hard to identify. No matter how hard you try.

Try New Anongone. Erase those smells that linger....with just one spray with just one finger!"

Just like the delete button.

Anongone! It works....

#21 Anonymous on 01/28/10 at 02:30 PM

No wonder children fail with such supportive adults like these in our community. Lets blame the children for their failure. Give me a break. This is a collective failure and we will all pay the price, one way or another.

#21.1 Sheila Tolley on 01/29/10 at 10:06 AM

Please rent the movie "Homeless to Harvard." It is an enlightening true story.

#21.1.1 Anonymous on 01/29/10 at 11:04 AM

I suppose you would judge everyone based on one persons experience. I am well aware that there are people who are able to dig themselves out of holes..that is wonderful. But they have something others do not..what that something is will vary. It could be motivation, intelligence, determination, positive reinforcement..the list goes on. I am not in a place to judge someones life experiences and then tell them what they should do. I would rather attempt to help and know that I did the best I could, the rest is up to them. Judge not..
But I do not believe that as a society, we are doing the best we can do. Everyone is out for themselves.

#21.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 01/29/10 at 12:21 PM

You have a selfish, greedy, negative attitude. How can you look at what the United States does for the world and say a stupid comment like that? If you make good grades, the Hope Grant is there for you.
Most recently, look at the disaster in Haiti. The best thing you can do is keep your negativity to yourself and stay off the computer that someone probably gave to you.

#21.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 01/29/10 at 01:11 PM

You need help.

#21.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 01/30/10 at 01:51 PM

No joke. You should seriously get counseling for your depression. You are going to end up hurting yourself or even worse someone else. Everyone is NOT out for themselves in the United States. What about our Military guys and girls fighting for our freedom? Smile a while and be proud to be an American.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 02/01/10 at 07:44 AM

a lot of assumptions in your post. you do not know me.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 02/01/10 at 09:37 AM

Judging from your log on name, YOU don't know YOU either.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley 2 on 02/01/10 at 10:25 AM

It may have escaped your attention, or maybe you just don’t get it, but everyone is anonymous. Anyone can pick a false name and pretend they are someone else. There are no guarantees. And it really doesn’t matter…the content of the post is what is relevant. But it is fun when it ticks people off and they have nothing left to say and try to discredit your point by whining about the anonymous name.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 02/01/10 at 11:11 AM

I can do this too! I'm not sure about the relevance to any of these posts in regards to the original story, I just wanted to add my two cents. Maybe we can stop arguing over the internet now?

Signed,
The REAL Sheila Tolley

p.s. stop trying to take my name.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 02/01/10 at 12:56 PM

The smart people still know that wasn't me, Anonymous. Be patient......when you grow up you will be brave enough to use your name. Cry baby cry.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Sheila Tolley on 02/01/10 at 01:22 PM

No, the real smart people know which Sheila is the correct one. I've been on this site and Pike County's site for a long, long time. Heck, throughout the day its really all that I have to do! It really is sad that Anonymous has to take my name.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 02/01/10 at 04:39 PM

waaah

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 Sheila Tolley on 02/01/10 at 03:35 PM

Mine.

#21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 Sheila Tolley on 02/03/10 at 12:15 PM

I need some meds! I'm crazy!

#22 A teacher on 01/30/10 at 05:48 PM

As a teacher, I agree that it is not always the student's fault. Please know that teachers ARE trying. Kids struggle most with being able to concentrate long enough to read passages or work problems presented. Who's to blame? As someone said, everyone has a part. Many of my colleagues are tutoring by 7:30 each morning. After 9 or 10 hour days, we go home to do more work. "Planning" time is spent in meetings. Amazingly, today, most students expect to learn effortlessly. Most NEVER study or complete even the simplest homework assignments. How do I get them to come prepared? I give out paper and pencils daily. Don't get me wrong. My kids are well behaved in class and many try their best WHILE they are in my presence. It's hard, though, when you have a large class with 3 that are apathetic, 3 that struggle, 3 that are going through difficult situations at home, 3 that are always absent, and 3 that are excelling far above expectations. This is especially difficult because of the many, many days and times that students (or teachers) are out of the classroom--field trips and assemblies for students; workshops and other tasks for teachers. Please contact your child's teachers and ask how you can help.

#23 Anonymous on 02/01/10 at 09:07 AM

Teachers are victims of the system as well. Classrooms should be modernized, more professional development and better tools. Teaching is a difficult profession. There are many wonderful teachers out there. However, there are some that should have chosen a different profession. My child is the unlucky recipient of one such teacher (2years in a row actually).
Also, more parents should be involved. But I will say it is difficult when a child’s teacher fails to respond to emails or notes before involving the principal. As a single parent, I have much to juggle but still manage to check homework each night, answer questions and sign the agenda. But there are some parents that are completely unsupportive and unconcerned and that will have a negative effect on a child’s learning.
As a parent, it is hard when you work 40 hours a week and then come home to cook, clean, homework, washing clothes etc.. You may feel that because you pay taxes, you should not have to be involved in your child’s education because someone else is being paid to provide that service. HOWEVER, if you want your child to be successful, you must be involved..and maybe supplement what they learn in school. Print out extra worksheets for your child to complete, especially during CRCT or other major testing. It really helps my child when they have one-on-one time to go over any questions that are missed. If there are problems, talk to the teacher (if possible), go to the principal and BOE if necessary. Be an ADVOCATE for your child.

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