Don't pass test...no graduation from ps

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by She, May 16, 2007.

  1. She

    She New Member

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    I find it interesting...right now in the state of Texas this is happening at all the high schools.

    Students who have taken the TAKS test but...not passed all it's parts. Most of these students have taken this test 3 times and can take it again in July. The big brew ha-ha is that several of the schools aren't letting the seniors who haven't passed walk at graduation. hummm Some of the schools allow the students to walk at graduation and give them an empty diploma holder, some don't let them walk at all.

    Now...here is my question how could these students pass all their classes some with straight A's & B's and honors classes not pass this state test? I could understand it if it was the bottom of the barrel students who never studied missed class etc...but...I think there is a problem when the "good students" aren't passing this test which is required to get your diploma.

    Now here's the other side of this...several of these parents are now asking about homeschooling. In the state of TX we are private school and set our own requirements for graduation. So...this gets goofy. The military and local government services are on to the fact that parents have taken their kids out of high school and then "home schooled" them or just given them a diploma so they are requiring a student have anywhere between a semester and 9 month of homeschooling time. yep uh huh.

    My heart goes out to those students and their families. The thing is I don't want those "who didn't pass the test" to be thrown in the "homeschooled" bucket when they really weren't and give homeschoolers a bad rap. MOST homeschoolers truly educate their children. There are exceptions, of course, but...maybe there is another plan for those individuals.

    Anyway...I've already had about 5 calls from parents wanting to join my homeschool program and want to know how much it cost and how long. HELLO? It doesn't work that way.

    I know this got long but...for all of you that have those bad days and wonder if you should throw them back into public school...between the violence, lack of education and the point that it all boils down to passing one test, it's food for thought. ;)
     
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  3. momothem

    momothem New Member

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    Wow. Yep, no doubt we made the right decision. How very frustrating for the parents and students. I'm not sure I understand correctly --that the military and some government schools are looking favorably on 9 months of hs or they are actually requiring it? VERY interesting...
    Thanks for the post.
     
  4. She

    She New Member

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    They are seeing that students who don't pass high school are pulled out and then "homeschooled" for a short amount of time to get their diploma. So...they are requiring a minimum of 9 months worth of homeschooling after pulling out of ps the senior year. So...the un-passing student can't just be taken out of high school and the parent create a diploma.
     
  5. momothem

    momothem New Member

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    Gotcha.
     
  6. CrystalCA

    CrystalCA New Member

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    Here in Las Vegas they were giving away IPODS and portable DVD players to get students to TAKE the required state test to get their diplomas!!!
    Guess what??? They only had 45% of the soon to be graduating class show up for the test!!!
    Even IPods and dvd players couldn't get them to take a test to get their diploma!!
    It is an insane world when kids don't care to even get a high school diploma!!
     
  7. southernmom

    southernmom New Member

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    :evil: You just don't want to get me started on that testing stuff.
    Ann
     
  8. Shelley

    Shelley New Member

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    I can tell you exactly how kids who were passing all their classes still failed the test---- they didn't really pass their classes.

    When I was student-teaching in public school (in one of the best districts in San Antonio), I wanted to give zeroes for work not turned in. Do you know what I was told? I could certainly try that, but the administration would simply change the grade to a passing one come report card time. Apparently, other full time teachers had tried that tactic only to be overturned.

    I appreciate their efforts in trying to make the whole "homeschool to avoid the test" a lot harder for the parents, but I understand what you're saying as well. Thankfully, I suspect there will be a small minority of people who would bother. Sad to say, but most parents have written off their kids' educations by the time they're in late high school.
     
  9. TeacherMom

    TeacherMom New Member

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    wow, I am wondering now, what if they make it a law to take the test , even for home schoolers? It could go bad for some people who don't teach the exact things the test wants them to learn too...
    I dont like these tests, I liked it when Colleges have thier own entrance exams, if you want to go to college you learn what you need for that.
    I think expecting kids to learn what teachers are not teaching them up to like a month before the tests now just to make sure they get a good score on the test, si wrong, they need to create a curriculuim that meets the requirement and then stick to them like we do with homeschooling, we stick to it and complete what is needed for each grade before we go on to the next...
     

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