The MCAS Test

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The MCAS Debate

Just because a student did everything the state told him to do... attend school every day, took all the tests and still can't read or write sufficiently well enough to pass the MCAS test, some school officials advocate giving the student an authentic "Certificate of Achievement". Woo Hoo!
The argument goes that a two tiered education approach may be exactly what's needed in order to serve the needs of all of our students who, like all of us, are better skilled in some areas than others and who learn at a pace unique to themselves.
I have news for these people. We already have a two tiered system. The first tier is "pass", the other tier is "fail". A high school diploma is not a birthright. Period.
The failing tier can become a toll gate operator on the Mass Pike since that only requires the educaton to make change for a dollar or five dollar bill.
If the students are required to pass the MCAS to graduate, it should also be made a requirement in Framingham that all teachers pass the MCAS in order to teach in school. After all, how can you be a teacher if you cannot pass a mere high school equivalency test. If this is not palatable to teachers, maybe MCAS should be spelled SCAM (as Carla Howell suggests).

The MCAS Debate
Just because a student did everything the state told him to do... attend school every day, took all the tests and still can't read or write sufficiently well enough to pass the MCAS test, some school officials advocate giving the student an authentic "Certificate of Achievement". Woo Hoo! The argument goes that a two tiered education approach may be exactly what's needed in order to serve the needs of all of our students who, like all of us, are better skilled in some areas than others and who learn at a pace unique to themselves. I have news for these people. We already have a two tiered system. The first tier is "pass", the other tier is "fail". A high school diploma is not a birthright. Period. The failing tier can become a toll gate operator on the Mass Pike since that only requires the educaton to make change for a dollar or five dollar bill. If the students are required to pass the MCAS to graduate, it should also be made a requirement in Framingham that all teachers pass the MCAS in order to teach in school. After all, how can you be a teacher if you cannot pass a mere high school equivalency test. If this is not palatable to teachers, maybe MCAS should be spelled SCAM (as Carla Howell suggests).

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