About 3 weeks ago, the NC State Superintendent of Public Education, Catherine Truitt, wrote an article in our local “fish wrap” about the major problem in NC schools. She called it “diploma integrity.”
What the hell does that mean???? Why can’t she use common language? Maybe that is the problem?
The entire article was filled with “loopy” words and sentences. One sentence was 49 words long. But, after reading the article 3 times here is my effort to decipher her word salad in common language:
NC public education is not preparing kids for college or jobs. Education is the surest route to prosperity, (we all know that). She does not like end of course tests. I guess tests are racist!
She is proposing more flexibility in teaching and curriculums focused on workforce skills. Seems like a good idea to me. But she includes “durable skills” like persistence, collaboration, and creativity in the list of job skills. What about math? Computer skills? Reading and writing? Science?
And-of course she is proposing a “new accountability system that is more than grades.” How will she measure creativity or persistence?
What is wrong with testing students in K-12 to determine math and English skills? Same with reading comprehension? Keep the approach simple. If a 6th grade math class has 30 students and 10 can’t pass a simple, one-page, year-end math exam, then those students need summer school, tutoring, or extra help. And one last thing, that 6th grade teacher should know within the first month of class which students need help. It should not be a surprise which students fail the end of year test, but if 1/3 of the students fail the exam, shame on the parents, the teacher and the school.
FOOTNOTE: Professor James Heckman from the U. of Chicago, won the Noble Prize in Economics for his work on racial inequality data analysis. He has published many studies. One of his major conclusions regarding racial disparity centers around minority family structure and parenting skills. His massive research reveals these 2 areas as the major cause of inequality amongst the races in America. Of course, education, especially K-6 is extra important to give the child a good start. This too, is an area of deficit among minority groups, especially Black families. This is an area of his specific research, and one that is not improving. Schools alone cannot fix this problem.
High Truths and Low Lies 