What Mr. Beck Thinks
I would like to update this more frequently, but this year has been one packed with much to do! I also now write mostly for my own website and blog, and for the first part of this school year the web service here was down for a time. You are more than welcome to email me at any time to discuss any issues of concern to you. The following entry is from Tuesday, May 31, 2006
The High School Exit Exam, or Not
Two weeks ago I was all ready to spill a righteous rant onto this webpage about how ludicrous it was for a judge to rule against the high school exit exam when, lo and behold, the California Supreme Court ruled to reinstate the exam as a requirement for graduation.
So what was I going to say now? After reading a bunch about it already, stuff about how we need standards and we need to prepare our kids for the real world and all that-- very good stuff, but stuff already said-- I realized I needed a fresh take.
How about this one.
There are, after all, a whole lot of people who still think the exam is unfair and racist and all the rest of it. No matter what you say they're still going to protest. And all the stuff about standards and preparation and all the rest of that isn't going to deter them.
Why don't we take the approach that the high school exit exam is a pretty good thing to pass for one to demonstrate skills that would augment his or her own beautiful God-given gifts?
This starts from the premise that God has gifted every single individual with something that he or she does exceptionally well. Yes, life is about finding and using that gift, but make no mistake. God's word in the Bible is unequivocal: You are gifted. What is even greater is that the same Word says that when you sow that gift, that means use it in such a way as to make others' lives better, then you will be rewarded in phenomenal ways.
Why don't we take the approach that emphasizes that reaching this standard, this bar, no matter what it takes, will sharpen the gift?
I think one thing that hinders it is the institutionalized codependent mentality about the exam. Even as it is we give the exam when students are sophomores, and expect the cheapest results to qualify students as "proficient." If they blow it we give them a zillion more chances. This sends the message "We don't expect a lot from you, and if you keep being dimwits then it's our fault." This, really, is not the formula for success.
Let's give it to them as seniors, in February. They fail it, they get one more chance in May. That's it. But to make this work, it must be coupled with a comprehensive approach that has us-- all of us institutional teacher-administrator-professor-politician people-- all telling them in no uncertain terms that we want to see them shine and that when they shine then they get the huge payoff.
Then not only will we set the standard high and expect greatness from them, but we'll see it. And it won't only bring tremendous abundance for them but for all of us.
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What do you think? Email me!
The above represent the opinions of David Beck and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of West Covina High School or the West Covina Unified School District.
by David Beck 2006