Hi Ron,
RM>For one thing, if there is a nationally agreed-upon standard,
  >then we can have exit exams which certify that a graduate has
  >attained certain skills or a certain base of knowledge.  As
  >it is now, a graduate may, or may not, know much of ANYTHING!
Well, I come from England which has a system of exit exams -
nationally agreed-upon standards. When I was growing up we had the 11+
tests that dictated who would be eligible to get into grammar schools.
Well I passed with flying colours but my sister failed. My sister also
failed her O'Levels in English which is her best subject. (O'Levels are
Ordinary level General Certificates of Education - when you pass those
you go on to  the Advanced level) Did my sister lack the skills, did she
have less of a base knowledge than me? No! She just panicked during a
test atmosphere.
The whole problem of exit exams - if they are the whole basis
of graduation - is that don't guarantee that the student has the
knowledge. Some people, let's face it, do not do well in a test
situation. The problem with having national tests is that teachers will
teach to the test. Passing a test only proves that you can take a test
or spew out whatever has been memorized. It doesn't prove that what you
wrote you can apply next week or next month, etc. I remember studying
for my GCEs and for university exams and believe me if you would have
asked me a week later the same questions I would not have been able to
answer half of them! I'm sure I'm not the only one who can testify to
that. ;)
WE have had tests here in Math and I believe English at the 3rd, 6th and
9th grade level. These are for assessment purposes only. I remember
being at several schools last (?) year and many teachers complained
about the content of the tests. Some of their best students failed them
or at least did poorly. Actually, I believe it wasn't so much the
content of the test but the set up and wording of them that they
complained about.
Tests can tell you a lot, but I believe the teacher can tell you more.
:)
Well that's my two cents worth.
Ruth
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 þ QMPro 1.53 þ 90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.
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