A Legal Alien

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13 April 2005

I have writer's block with my Assessment paper. I think. I can't get motivated to write about my topic. I'm supposed to write a draft to turn in by Monday and there's just no passion there right now. I don't know what point I want to make because I'm really sort of indifferent about the Exit Exam. Well, not really indifferent but not passionate the way I do about other testing.

In some ways, the CAHSEE helps set a standard for all students and yet, is that really fair? I see the pros and cons to having the test and to allowing districts to determine their own standards for graduation, within state guidelines. But having taught at a school with a principal who believed "Every senior walks, no matter what", I applaud a test that takes graduation away from a pushy counselor or administrator, or a teacher who just feels bad for a kid. I've been there. I've changed a failing grade to a D- to pass a senior so he graduates. I've been asked to change a grade for a failing student and in once instance, I had another teacher attempt to change my failing grade without my knowledge. The CAHSEE takes away that element of the sympathy passing grade to allow graduation.
At the same time, I've seen students who work hard, come to class every day, do their work and try their best to succeed and yet cannot pass the CAHSEE. Does that student not deserve to walk because of test anxiety? High stakes testing is a double edged sword. Some students rise to the challenge, some panic and don't bother trying. Some cheat. Some can't handle sitting in a large gymnasium in a folding chair for 4 hours. Even though EL and SpEd students are allowed modifications, they still have to take the test.
I'm getting there. There's little research or opinions about the CAHSEE that I've been able to find. That is most likely because it has not had an impact on graduation rates yet. The state Board of Ed. has pushed back the requirement from affecting the class of 2004 to the class of 2006. Those students who took the test will possibly receive a Certificate of "Recognition" from the state for their participation. What a crock. I spent a lot of my own spare time tutoring students for the CAHSEE. I offered before school and after school tutoring times with me for the ELA portion of the test to my students who needed to pass the test. I had 6 or 7 who regularly met with me and ALL of them passed the test. Their hard work AND mine was all for nothing because the state was afraid of having more than 92,000 not graduate in 2004. I suppose having high standards and taking a hard line only works once in a while, like in an election year.

For Paul Barrett

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