Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oregon students shouldn’t have to prove they can write or do math to get a diploma, lawmakers decide
The Oregonian ^ | Jun 16, 2021 | Betsy Hammond

Posted on 06/21/2021 4:16:01 PM PDT by george76

Students in the class of 2021 did not have to prove they could write or do math at a basic level to earn their diplomas. A bill headed to Gov. Kate Brown would prohibit any such requirement at least until 2027.

A bill to prohibit Oregon schools from requiring students to show they can read, write and do math at a basic high school level is headed to Gov. Kate Brown after lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday.

The idea is to hit pause on the requirements, in place since 2009 but already suspended during the pandemic, at least until the class of 2024 gets their diplomas and for Oregon to thoughtfully reexamine its graduation requirements in the meantime. A report recommending what the new standards should be is due to the Legislature and Oregon Board of Education by September 2022.

But since Oregon has long insisted it would not impose new graduation requirements on students who have already begun high school, new requirements would not take effect until the class of 2027 at the very earliest. So at least five more classes could be expected to graduate without needing to demonstrate roughly 10th grade level proficiency in math and writing.

The decision to remove the skills requirement was largely but not entirely a party-line one, with Democrats staunchly opposing the proficiency rules and Republicans decrying what they see as a lowering of academic standards.

A spokesperson for Brown told The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday she has yet to decide whether she will sign the bill, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.

Oregon, unlike other states, did not require students to pass a particular standardized test or any test at all. Students could show their ability to use English and do math via about five different tests or by completing an in-depth classroom project judged by their own teachers. In reality, most schools relied primarily on standardized tests and most students easily passed them.

But demonstrating proficiency proved most challenging for students who learned English as a second language, students with disabilities and students of color.

Officials on the Oregon Board of Education, when they enacted the “essential skills” graduation requirement more than a decade ago, said they hoped no student would be denied a diploma for lacking the skills but that schools would step up and help juniors and seniors who hadn’t mastered enough English or math to do so. Many high schools created special math and writing workshop classes for seniors who needed to demonstrate those skills to get their diplomas.

The bill calls on the diverse committee studying graduation requirements to come up with a recommendation “with the goal of ensuring that the processes and outcomes related to the requirements for high school diplomas are equitable, accessible and inclusive.”


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois; US: New York; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: arth; bidenvoters; education; homeschool; lazy; lazyteachers; math; oregon; oregoneisgone; proficiency; proficiencytests; reading; schools; students; taxes; taxpayers; teachers; tests; wboopi; whoops
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last
To: george76

Liberals making kids dumber


41 posted on 06/21/2021 4:35:46 PM PDT by vigilante2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Many American corporations who hire American college graduates have to conduct courses to teach their new hires how to WRITE UNDERSTANDABLE ENGLISH.

Otherwise, no current employees can understand emails sent by these illiterate, recent COLLEGE graduates.


42 posted on 06/21/2021 4:36:28 PM PDT by Gnome1949
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

It’s beyond time for a taxpayer revolt...


43 posted on 06/21/2021 4:37:26 PM PDT by unread (Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities - Voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HippyLoggerBiker

You are right. As in....

Regents Drop Teacher Literacy Test Seen as Discriminatory ...https://www.nytimes.com › ny-regents-teacher-exams-alst
Mar 13, 2017 — The Board of Regents on Monday eliminated a requirement that aspiring teachers in New York State pass a literacy test to become certified ....
//////////////////////////////////////

So why ask students to do that smart people stuff if the teachers can’t? Keep it fair.


44 posted on 06/21/2021 4:37:31 PM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: george76

They will need to show they can spell blm to graduate.


45 posted on 06/21/2021 4:37:48 PM PDT by I want the USA back (The government is the biggest criminal of them all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

What would be wrong with slightly lowering standards for those graduating the next 2 yrs and trying to make up time lost for the lower grades, over the next 3-4 years?

Maybe an extra 2 or 3 weeks of school...


46 posted on 06/21/2021 4:38:27 PM PDT by Hypo2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

Article states....”demonstrating proficiency proved most challenging for students who learned English as a second language,(foreighn born) students with disabilities and students of color”.....

We had “Special Education” for such students who had difficulty keeping up. We did not lower standards for the entire class rather other requirements were adjusted to the Special Ed students based on their ability to learn etc.

What Oregon is doing is once again putting their students at a disadvantage based on a few.


47 posted on 06/21/2021 4:39:08 PM PDT by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: GOPJ

Article states....”demonstrating proficiency proved most challenging for students who learned English as a second language,(foreighn born) students with disabilities and students of color”.....

We had “Special Education” for such students who had difficulty keeping up. We did not lower standards for the entire class rather other requirements were adjusted to the Special Ed students based on their ability to learn etc.

What Oregon is doing is once again putting their students at a disadvantage based on a few.


48 posted on 06/21/2021 4:39:08 PM PDT by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: george76
They're really trying to take out all the benefit of the Griggs decision, aren't they?
49 posted on 06/21/2021 4:40:51 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change with out notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76
Just sign their diploma with an X and take it to some employer; forget McDonald's - they want pro's. But then these same politicians will pass a law saying you can't deny employment to those people.

There's the mop, there's the bucket, have a nice work day.

50 posted on 06/21/2021 4:41:36 PM PDT by SkyDancer (I Identify As Vaccinated)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

I hate this for the kids that can read, write and do basic math. Dumbing down to the lowest level is no way to go through school.


51 posted on 06/21/2021 4:41:47 PM PDT by devane617 (RUN FOR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICE! COUNCIL,SCHOOL BOARD, ETC.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

The drug cartels want them kept stupid.


52 posted on 06/21/2021 4:44:38 PM PDT by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

School? We need no stinking school! We don’t learn anything, ergo we don’t need no stinking diploma! And what the hell does “ergo” mean?


53 posted on 06/21/2021 4:45:13 PM PDT by Fungi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Considering its commie Oregon, I doubt the teachers can write or do math either


54 posted on 06/21/2021 4:45:35 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Then close the schools.


55 posted on 06/21/2021 4:46:00 PM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Well, when they’re only gonna be serving “da master” on the democrat plantation for the rest of their miserable lives, there’s no need to learn to read, write or do math...dats be racis.
When their future is nothing but a BLMer, burger flipper or cannon fodder is some foreign war for the da masters, who needs readin’ writin’ or that racist math stuff.


56 posted on 06/21/2021 4:46:58 PM PDT by lgjhn23 (Pray for America....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

First we had fake news.
Now we have fake education.
The United States of Starnesville is just around the bend.


57 posted on 06/21/2021 4:49:08 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Democrat slave owners in the pre-Civil War South were against their slaves learning to read, write, or count. The new Democrats are wanting to keep their future voter just as ignorant, or worse.


58 posted on 06/21/2021 4:50:00 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

This was done to coincide with Juneteenth! /s


59 posted on 06/21/2021 4:50:02 PM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Peanut Butter doesn't offset shootings, killings, drugs, riots, and lootings and burnings by BLM.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: who_would_fardels_bear

Or people will jerk their kids out of school like I did.

Mark my words and watch this space. Home schooling will be attacked soon. Then outlawed.


60 posted on 06/21/2021 4:50:20 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (RIP my "teddy bear". )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-114 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson