EDUCATION

I am a retired Educator. I worked for 24 years in Southern California at the high school level. I moved to Las Vegas in 2010. Since then, I have observed the lack of enthusiasm toward education. I have been fortunate enough to meet students who, at the time, were struggling as they were told that they would not be able to graduate. The problem? They could'nt "pass" the English Section of the Proficiency Test, to be able to "WALKWITH THEIR PEERS". I tutored them. Some took only two or three meetings, and they were able to pass the test. How? English teachers just did not tell them what they were doing wrong, how to correct their mistakes. Graduating average was so low at the time and if they really looked at statistics, the higher percentage was English. The excuses? This students come uneducated and can't pass the test. The parents are ignorant themselves and can't or won't help their children. I've heard them all. Then, Susie Lee comes along, with the "perfect solution" for all teachers. As a Campaign Offer, she tells that "I WILL GET RID OF THE SCHOOL PROFICIENCY TEST FOR ALL GRADES!" The result? No more accountability on the part of bad teachers. Of course Graduation numbers skyrocketed! WOW! what a solution! Now all kids can graduate from high school even if they are illiterate. The consequense? They are not being accepted into prestigious schools. Hmm.. why? They can't pass the minimum requirements. How unfair. Susie Lee still brags about it! These kids deserve better. Don't get me wrong. NOT ALL TEACHERS ARE BAD. THERE ARE A LOT OF TEACHERS THAT ARE GOOD AND ARE TEACHING THESE KIDS WITH A LOT OF PASSION. THE FACT THAT THE PROFICIENCY TEST WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE EQUATION, MAKES UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES THINK TWICE BEFORE ACCEPTING THESE STUDENTS. THEY HAVE NO MEASURABLE RECORDS TO SEE HOW THESE KIDS HAVE PROGRESSED SINCE 10TH GRADE. THAT IS JUST THE TRUTH. i WAS THE COLLEGE DIRECTOR AT MY TIME. I INTERVIEWED COLLEGE COUNSELORS ASKING THEM WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR. WELL ROUNDED STUDENTS, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS? PROGRESS IN THEIR COURSES OF STUDY, AND EXCELLING IN CHALLENGING COURSES.