Government high school test may be eliminated

Baltimore Sun ^ | January 26, 2010 | Liz Bowie

[La Lydia]

An American government exam taken by all high school students in Maryland would be eliminated next year under the proposed state budget, a surprising shift in policy that comes just three years after the test was made a graduation requirement. Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal cuts $1.9 million from the Maryland State Department of Education budget that would pay for the test and its grading. However, the legislature could still restore the test if it found the funding. Some educators expressed immediate concern that social studies would get less attention in high schools if the test is eliminated.

"I don't understand it," said Baltimore schools CEO Andrés Alonso. "Why fiddle with something like that? … So what does it signal, that government is suddenly less relevant than the other subjects? Why government and not the other tests?"

High school seniors are required to pass the High School Assessments in American government, biology, English and algebra before they can get a diploma....

Jeff Passe, professor and chair of the Department of Secondary Education at Towson University who testified before the state school board Tuesday, said in an interview that it is the wrong time to eliminate the exam given the level of civil discourse in the country's political system.

"Constitutional issues are being discussed at every level," he said. "This is the time more than ever to have kids learning about government and how it works. If it is a budgetary issue, there are other ways to save money."...

[La Lydia]

Yes. It suits the political Overlords in Maryland that the people know nothing about their government. It makes them easier to manipulate. See: PG County; People's Republic of Montgomery County.

[Mr. K]

Does anyone know how I can get the figures for what we spend for teachers and administrators in the school budget each year?

on top of the local budget we vote on, what federal budget money is there?

I am sick of this

[La Lydia]

For you school? Your district? Your state? It is all a matter of public record, and if they try to stonewall you, there is always FOIA. But most districts and states publish their budgets and post them online. Your state Department of Education would have the information on federal funding made available to local schools.

[blackdog]

Make the teachers issue the test and grade it. So where does spending 1.9 million come from? I think teachers give tests every day. Sort of a fixed overhead IMHO.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Yes. It suits the political Overlords in Maryland that the people know nothing about their government. It makes them easier to manipulate.

I agree. Drop this requirement, and ultimately, there will be less uppity young people annoying state and federal officials, and more passive young people watching The Jersey Shore and the Venereal Housewives shows.

If you don't know how your government works, you won't know how to effect change.

Maryland "Freak State" PING!

[La Lydia]

“Venereal Housewives”!! What a lovely turn of phrase. You know, I have never watched that show, and I think that’s probably why. All I need to know about the Jersey Shore I get briefed on once a week by The Soup. It only takes a couple of minutes. All this leaves me plenty of time to pester my elected representatives.