Have you ever heard the statement, “College is not for everyone”? Well what if we took it a little further and said that high school is not for everyone? Is this a reasonable statement to make and is it sensible enough to even be considered? Carol Jago believes so; she says that entrance to high school ought not be automatic, and that only those demonstrating “minimum competency in math, reading and writing” be allowed to enroll in high school (191). Should this proposal be ignored or admired?
Carol Jago says that at the end of middle school all students should take an exam, an exam which will ultimately determine their future. The exam will have the basics of everything that the students have learned thus far on it and depending on what the score is, the student will be subject to high school if they pass, apprenticeships if they fail, or classes that will allow them to retake the test if they fail.
In my opinion, this is a magnificent idea. I do not believe that steady schooling is for everyone. Why not start off early with our choice of career rather than waste more time in school? If you know for sure that you would like to be a plumber, carpenter or even a warehouse worker what is the point in continuing your education further than the simple basics?
In most high schools, about half of the students do not pay attention while in the classroom. This ultimately causes a disturbance, disabling the rest of the students who actually care about their work to not learn and the teachers to get off track or behind with teaching the desired material. With Jago’s plan we can weed out these sorts of problems and supply a richer education in the classrooms.
On a more personal level, I myself changed high schools because of this very problem. When I was in the classroom I felt as though the teachers were taking more time disciplining students than teaching the actual coursework. I then realized that this was not the place for me because I wanted a richer education; therefore I changed schools. I went to a high school that hand selected the students based on academic success thus far and talent. By making that change I feel as though I learned more things and had more doors opened for me then I could have ever imagined at the other high school.
His plan is a win-win situation but of course there are areas that one may question. For example, at such an early age children don’t know exactly what they want to do with life yet. Therefore making such a life changing decision is very critical and many people won’t agree with it. At the end of middle school children are about 14 years old. While they are in the teen stage of their life, they still are not capable of saying that they don’t want to continue with high school and that they will work with their hands for the rest of their life. After they make this decision there is no turning back. This ultimately adds stress to the youth earlier to figure out what they would like to do with their life. But, as stated before, why not weed out the kids who just don’t want to be there anyway?
In order to come to a common ground. It could be changed so that there is not an entrance exam to high school as an whole, but there be an entrance exam to all classes that the students will take. For example if a student is entered for biology they will have to take the science test to see if they are at a point that’s eligible for them to take the class. This then creates a middle area for the two ideas. People who are behind in class will be put in a classroom together and the ones who care and know their work will be together.
This method is adopted by many private schools.
Today 's students arrive with a wide range of backgrounds. Correct placement ensures higher success rates for students. Students are more satisfied with the education they are receiving, and instructors can focus on teaching the content of the course instead of dealing with ill-prepared students. Institutions can plan appropriate levels of courses and be confident that they are meeting students ' needs. (Maple T.A)
But what is the opposite of adapting the plan? Simply allowing things to stay the way that they are? Our youth will continue to receive poor education and waste their time. This is becoming more and more of a problem every day and if we don’t take action it will only hurt our future because children are the future. There needs to be a change.
Works Cited
"High School Placement Test - HSPT." Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. - HSPT. Scholastic Testing Services, 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
Ender, Markal. "High School Entrance Exams – Demystifying the Acronyms SSAT, ISEE and HSPT." SFTutors RSS. SFTutors, 2004. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
"Why Use the MAA Placement Tests?" Maplesoft. Maple T.A, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
Cited: "High School Placement Test - HSPT." Scholastic Testing Service, Inc. - HSPT. Scholastic Testing Services, 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. Ender, Markal. "High School Entrance Exams – Demystifying the Acronyms SSAT, ISEE and HSPT." SFTutors RSS. SFTutors, 2004. Web. 25 Apr. 2013. "Why Use the MAA Placement Tests?" Maplesoft. Maple T.A, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.
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